Municipal Recycling Project

The Municipal Recycling Project was initiated a year and a half ago through the collaboration of four organizations; international non-profit organizations Comunidad Connect and DED, San Juan del Sur's acclaimed resort Pelican Eyes, and the Municipal Government of San Juan del Sur, with the support of Fundación A. Jean Brugger. Eight years ago, the students of Fundación A. Jean Brugger spent the weekends cleaning up the beaches and green spaces of San Juan del Sur. They also provided garbage bins and informational materials for visitors. As the municipal government and other institutions improved the cleanliness of our town, Fundación A. Jean Brugger moved into public awareness in the local schools. To now join the Municipal Recycling Program as a formal partner is an honor and privilege.

This initiative includes several phases, including separation of plastic at the municipal garbage dump, public outreach and education, organic waste management, and a municipal botanical nursery, as well as local recycling receptacles in the town of San Juan del Sur. To date, this collaboration has enabled the collection of more than 15 tons of plastic waste throughout the municipality, diverting it from streets and beaches, and has created 10 local jobs.

Phase II of the Municipal Recycling Project, which was launched on July 29th, 2009, promises the placement of 10 plastic bottle recycling collection centers throughout the community of San Juan del Sur, including four in the town's largest schools. These recycling centers will be supported by an educational outreach program, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Fundación A. Jean Brugger, integrated into each school's curriculum, which teaches the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling.

We are very excited about this project as a way to create environmental awareness in an area where the environment is often overlooked. We hope that this initiative will pave the way to more eco-friendly projects in other parts of the country.

Please visit www.reciclajesjds.com for more information.

Click here to see photos of the Muncipal Recycling Project.