Nosara Recycling & Education Center
Currently, our largest project is the operation of a Recycling and Education Center for Nosara. The design of this Center was led by Tobias Holler, practicing architect and Assistant Professor of Architecture at the New York Institute of Technology and his students, in conjunction with local architect Lucca Spendlingwimmer (Salgnac Architects). This Center collects, compacts and sells recyclables for the future transformation into new materials. It also serves as a communal education center for proper waste management.
Recycling Wednesdays Collection
Every Wednesday, thanks to community members and businesses sponsorship,we have a collection of recyclable material from La Esperanza to Nosara down town. Every day the amount of families and businesses separating their recyclables from their trash is increasing helping our local garbage problem. It is very important to put the material clean and dry in a transparent plastic bag every Tuesday night or very early Wednesday morning.
Adopt a Blue Flag School
The Adopt a Blue Flag Program, a highly respected and recognized national eco-label, awards Blue Flags to participating schools that meet strict criteria with regard to everything from water quality to environmental education programs. Infrastructure, including quality bathrooms, sinks, desks, chairs, ceilings and other basic infrastructural needs, is one of our local schools' biggest challenges. Our objective is not only to award the Blue Flag, but to provide an education with dignity for all children.
This year there are 5 schools participating in the Adopt a Blue Flag Program and we expect to include the remaining schools within our community in the near future.
This year there are 5 schools participating in the Adopt a Blue Flag Program and we expect to include the remaining schools within our community in the near future.
The Cleanest Neighboorhood in Nosara
This campaign promotes the active participation of Nosareños to keep their neighborhoods clean. Our campaign started in 2012 with more than 100 people from different barrios throughout the community participating. Our goal is to organize bi-annual cleaning events and to reward the cleanest neighborhood in Nosara.
Compost at Home
The Recycling Association has tested different ways to properly dispose of organics from home. Our recommendations are simple to implement and there is no cost involved. 1. Dig a hole one meter deep and one meter wide. 2. For safety purposes, add poles around the hole when possible. 3. Deposit your organics and cover them with an equal amount of leaves. 4. Do not include meat, grease or dairy.5. By adding this compost to your soil, it will enrich and beautify your gardens. This method of composting will produce no odor and will eliminate problems with wild animals. Another option is to build a compost tumbler. If you would like more information on this topic, please email us @ nosararecicla@gmail.com
Recycle with a Transparent Plastic Bag
We are promoting the use of transparent plastic bags to simplify the method of separating recyclables from the rest of the garbage collected from Nosara households. By placing mixed trash and clean recyclables in separate bags, the garbage collection truck can easily identify the contents. You can find transparent plastic bags (manufactured by Kanguro) in local supermarkets like Super Nosara and La Paloma. Belca also distributes different sizes of biodegradable and sturdy transparent bags.
Improving our Current Dump
The Nosara Recycling Association has worked with the University of Florida, Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences to create a plan to improve the current conditions of the Nosara dump and a plan for its future closure.
Currently, our focus is to engage, support and promote that the municipality of Nicoya, who is legally responsible for trash collection, starts doing regular collection in our district.
Currently, our focus is to engage, support and promote that the municipality of Nicoya, who is legally responsible for trash collection, starts doing regular collection in our district.
No Styrofoam Campaign
Styrofoam takes between 50 and 100 years to decompose, thereby producing large quantities of garbage accumulation. The Nosara Recycling Association is working to remedy this on two fronts: one is asking consumers to request that businesses use only biodegradable containers (e.g., for “to go” food) while we concurrently work toward the use of an entire line of disposables made of corn starch and sugar cane which are provided by the local distributor of Musa-Green Group products. We hope to be the first community of Costa Rica to eliminate the use of Styrofoam.
Workshops
The Recycling Association has been sponsoring workshops about “proper waste management” throughout the community. Schools, the local library and churches are just some of our target audiences. Topics covered during the workshops include: the difference between organic and inorganic material, the concept of the 3 R´s (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle), composting, the effects of burning garbage and why it is important to pay for the garbage recollection service.
Events with No Trash Residue
The Recycling Association’s collaboration with the Caricaco Music Festival was a big success! It was the first event which generated no trash residue. No plastic was used and most of the materials used during the Festival were compostable. We will continue to promote events that have minimum impact on our environment.
Reusable Fabric Grocery Bags
The Nosara Recycling Association sponsors reusable fabric bags made locally by a small union of seamstresses in San José. The fabric bags can be purchased at Super Nosara, Mini Super Delicias del Mundo and Guiones Mini Super.
Electronic Waste Collection Campaign
We collect electronics (computers, printers, cell batteries, cell phones, etc) so they can be disposed of properly. In recent years a great deal of attention has been devoted to the environmental impact of discarded computers and other electronic equipment. These items pose a massive problem for our dumpsite and create hazardous effects to human life. Follow us on Facebook (Nosara Sostenible). We will post the dates of all of our campaigns, including the Electronic Waste Collection Campaign.
Participation in Community Events
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During the year we participate in events organized by the community such as the Festival of Lights, Nosara Art´s Fairs, Nosara Bull Riding Festival and the Caricaco Music Festival.The 3 R´s Reduce, Resuse and Recycle are always part of our message.
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Arts & Crafts Made with Recyclable Material
The Nosara Recycling and Education Center holds several workshops a year to teach the Center´s workers how to create beautiful arts and crafts using recylable material. Paper baskets, bags and jewelry are some of the arts created at the Center and sold in the Artisans fairs held in the community.
Proper Management of Cooking Oil
One liter of used cooking oil can pollute 1000 liters of water. For this reason, the Recycling Association is promoting oil collection to produce biodiesel. It is a simple task that will have a positive impact on our environment. Whether collected from a restaurant business or your home, simply place the used oils in a sealed container and call Milton at: 8694-0234 to have it collected. This recycled cooking oil will be used to produce Biodiesel while helping to keep our water clean.
