Tamarindo News – The Santa Cruz Environmental Commission reports that, during 2018, recycling projects gained traction throughout the canton. The commission is the leader of this process and has involved various community stakeholders.
According to Katy Madrigal Morales, President of the 2018 Commission, the Clean and Healthy Community group in Barrio Lajas of Santa Cruz was established made up by several families who are willing to clean up that community.
Subsequently, the families are eager to sell the classified waste to collection centers and use the funds raised for other environmentally friendly initiatives.
In addition, the President of the Commission indicated that, this year, the community projects became stronger.
Among these is the EcoVidas Recycling Association, made up by approximately 12 families from different communities of the Santa Cruz canton operating out of their collection center located in Barrio Limon. Operational and outcome reports of the Environmental Commission for 2018 were presented at Reserva Conchal in mid-December.
“Year 2018 showed our group’s hard work, especially in the framework of waste treatment, which is very important for us since we live in an area where tourism is very important as it generates employment and wealth in this community,” said Madrigal.
As part of this waste recovery work, three other events took place. The first one was in June as part of the commemoration of the International Environment, Recycling and Tree Day. The second event occurred in November, a Great Recycling Campaign.
The last and third activity was also in November with the closure of the Environmental Education Program 2018. The Environmental Commission of Santa Cruz is comprised of the Chamber of Commerce and Tourism of Tamarindo (CCTT), the National Institute of Learning (INA), the Institute of Rural Development (INDER), FundeCongo, the University of Costa Rica (UCR) , the State Distance University (UNED), the Red Cross, the Fire Department, the National Insurance Institute (INS), the Free University of Costa Rica (ULICORI), the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE), the Public Police Force, the Tourist Police as well as Reserva Conchal.
Other bodies that take part in recycling activities are the Sub-regional Office of Santa Cruz and Carrillo of the Ministry of Environment and Energy (SINAC-MINAE), the Diria National Park, the Administrative Association of the Aqueducts of Lorraine and Arado, the Commission of Brigades, the Municipality of Santa Cruz and the Municipal Council, the Ministry of Public Education, the Ministry of Health, the Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers, Friends of the Diria, Monkey Park as well as the Cantonal Union of Associations.
Plans for 2019 Hernán Imhoff, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Tourism of Tamarin-do (CCTT), said that in 2018 in Playa Tamarindo a group of approximately 100 volunteers carried out a three-day cleaning activity along the coastal area to collect “microplastics.”
“The contributions developed by residents turned out to be very significant during the last months, resulting in Tamarindo obtaining achievements in 2018.
For example, the Ecological Blue Flag. We have taken significant steps in terms of environmental sustainability,” the President of the CCTT explained.
For her part, Madrigal stressed that in 2019 one of the priority goals is the establishment of Student Ecological Brigades (BEE) in schools and high schools of Santa Cruz.
“The Brigades are one of the main projects goals we have developed. We are eager to incorporate children and youth into environmental initiatives on a permanent basis, as well as to increase the civic awareness in favor of a rational use of natural resources,” she said.
In 2019, the Commission plans to organize eight BEE groups, for a total of approximately 80 students.
Source: Tamarindo News
