Recycling and community composting in Tortuguero

Snapshot Solution

by Ariana Solís Blandón, Municipalidad de Pococí, Limón, Costa Rica

Tortuguero

Tortuguero

Barra de Tortuguero is a town surrounded by rivers and canals, accessible only by water. With a population of 2500 people, tourism is its main source of employment, thanks to the nearby Tortuguero National Park.

This park, part of the Northwest Caribbean RAMSAR site, protects nesting sea turtles and diverse habitats. In 2022, it received more than 200,000 visitors, making it the fifth most visited park in the country.

Due to the high demand for services and difficult access, waste management is a challenge for the Municipality of Pococí, which is in charge of waste collection and disposal.

In 2006, in partnership with the municipality, the Asociación Planta Recicladora Barra del Tortuguero was created to provide organic waste collection, recycling, and composting services. The municipality provides resources and personnel, and the association is responsible for separating and selling recoverable waste.

Donations from Japan and Germany have modernized the process, allowing for the efficient transformation of organic and plastic waste.

Last update: 05 Feb 2024

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Context

Challenges addressed

Land and Forest degradation

Loss of Biodiversity

Pollution (incl. eutrophication and litter)

Lack of access to long-term funding

Changes in socio-cultural context

Lack of technical capacity

Poor monitoring and enforcement

Unemployment / poverty

Scale of implementation

Local

Ecosystems

Mangrove

Coastal forest

Beach

Buildings and facilities

Theme

Mitigation

Sustainable financing

Gender mainstreaming

Health and human wellbeing

Sustainable livelihoods

Local actors

Tourism

Pollution

Waste management

Location

Tortuguero Beach Limón CR, Tortuguero, Pococí, Limón Province 70206, Costa Rica

Central America

Impacts

Environmental

Solid waste is prevented from leaking into the environment.
Between 300 kg and 550 kg of organic waste are collected and composted per week, which are transformed into 100 kg of compost.
The weight of waste sent to the landfill has been reduced.

Social

The collection center is managed by an association made up of community members.
Education and awareness-raising efforts are carried out in schools and businesses, thanks to the support of local organizations.

Economic

The recycling and composting experience in Tortuguero exemplifies a circular economy by revaluing and converting half of the waste generated into raw material.