Recycling For Sustainability

When we returned from Costa Rica and started school, our group realized how little we value recycling in our community compared to the people in Costa Rica. In Costa Rica, trash bins were always accompanied with recycling bins, and all the tours we visited had their own special ways of minimizing waste and recycling their products. When we first saw the tiny recycling bin placed next to the trash bin at the first hotel, we were surprised. It was something that we had never seen or expected. However, as the days passed by, we realized this was Costa Rica. Recycling was not something neglected that was forced onto people. It was a habit and something that they valued. Recycling bins were everywhere, which made it so much easier for all of us to recycling while we were there.

Recycling bins we found on the street in Tortuguero

It was not only DoubleTree Cariari, our first hotel, that provided recycling bins everywhere. The Laguna Lodge in Tortuguero also enforced recycling and strongly stated how important waste management was in keeping their hotel sustainable. The Tortuguero Recycling Plant was nearby and the Laguna Lodge collected waste every day to send to the plant. This was a mandatory process that they followed. In addition to the hotels, all of our tour guides also had their own ways of staying sustainable. Jose from Espiritu Santo mentioned how the coffee branches cut off were all used as fire woods rather than thrown out as waste. Jose from Dole Banana Plantation talked about how he had to use plastic to cover his bananas, but all of it was always recycled. The banana tree cuts are left on the ground to be decomposed into organic matter and the stalk after the bananas are cut are used for making banana paper. Nothing was just “waste” in Costa Rica.

Our group was fascinated when we visited the recycling plant at Tortuguero. It was incredible to see how all the trash was sorted and recycled. All garbage near the Tortuguero area was picked up and delivered unseparated to the plant and it was the workers’ job to classify it.  All the plastics were separated into color and thickness and the papers were sent to San Jose to make walls, ceilings, etc.  Glass was separated by color and some were grinded. This glass was sold to difference companies in San Jose to make a special kind of paint that glows. Oil containers were also grinded and sold to biodiesel companies. So many materials were delivered and everything had to be classified manually. The garbage that is not reused gets picked up my city hall for waste. We learned a lot and it was a good way of getting direct experience about how Costa Rica recycles. The recycling plant was a place that proved all the recycling bins that we saw had a purpose.

Inside of the Recycling Plant

Recycling bins during our tour

We wanted to look into how the recycling process worked here in the US and compare this to the practices in other countries along with Costa Rica. Although waste management and recycling practices are improving compared to the past, the recycling rate is still relatively low and we wanted to find ways to change that. The people in Costa Rica are accustomed to the life that incorporates sustainability. We want to pass on this kind of mindset to our community as well and promote a culture that values recycling.

Recycling bins located around the Unistructure

It can be hard to suddenly take a huge step and make drastic changes. We suggest that everyone start slow and see the gradual effects that recycling and reducing waste can have on our environment. Businesses can start altering their products to make them more efficient and environmentally friendly. Use of plastics can be reduced, cardboard boxes can be replaced with reusable boxes, etc. Consumers can try to avoid using paper or plastic utensils, get reusable shopping bags, and make recycling a habit. If households start to keep recycling bins with their trash bins, it will be easy to recycle on a daily basis. Eventually this practice will be prominent outside of the house and people will look for recycling bins on the streets as well, encouraging cities to provide them.

We wanted to make some recommendations to Bryant University as well. During the research, we realized that Bryant actually had a lot of sustainability organizations and was working to implement sustainable practices around campus. Faculty can utilize BlackBoard and provide assignments online or have students hand in papers electronically. This will help save a lot of paper. Most importantly, Bryant can try to be more transparent about recycling practices and encourage all students to recycle efficiently. In turn, students should try to mirror what Bryant leadership is doing by printing double sided papers, using reusable water bottles, purchasing online textbooks, and utilizing the recycling bins around campus. Bryant will see a change and will become a much more sustainable community if everyone participates.

Team Waste Management/Recycling
- Kasey, Jenny, Macy, Cassie -

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