Sustainability Event

In an effort to increase understanding and participaton in the recycling program of Puerto Jimenez, employees of Lapa Rios Ecolodge took part in the lodge´s second Evento de Sostenibilidad (Sustainability Event), where trash receptacles were installed in private homes and small businesses to assist individuals in separating plastic, glass and aluminum cans. The idea to install these small trash separators came from the employees themselves, who believed that more members of the community needed to be educated on the benefits of recycling and that "something" was needed in order to teach people how easily they too could participate.

Before the Evento de Sostenibilidad took place (the 22-24 of September 2007), employees of Lapa Rios, with the help of the nonprofit organization ASCONA (Asociacion Costarricense para la Conservacion de la Naturaleza), went house to house, pulperia (convenient store) to pulperia, explaining the importance of recycling and distributing recycling guides created by the colegio (high school) of Puerto Jimenez (who eventually does the final sorting and distribution of recycled materials). On the day of the event, over 70 mini centro de acopios (mini recycling centers) were installed in private homes and small businesses all over Puerto Jimenez, while another 20 mini centro de acopios were donated to the colegio of Puerto Jimenez to assist in environmental education activities. Additionally, this evento de sostenibilidad helped generate a list of individuals who are participating in the town´s recycling program, making monthly collections a much easier task. Lapa Rios employees were thrilled to share their experiences and knowledge on the topic of recycling with their neighbors and truly thrived on the day of the event, demonstrating that the term "sustainability" not only involves taking care of the environment but of one´s own community as well.