• Why do we separate and recycle our waste?
• How do we separate our waste in Alegría?
• 🍌 Organic Waste
• 🥗 Compost stalls at Our Garden
• 🍳 Oil collection
• 🫗 Liquids
• 🦴 Bones
• 💩 Pet feces
• 🥩 Animal Products
• 🧴 Packaging, Plastics and Tetra Pak
• ♻️ Recycling Plastics at Our Station
• 🧃 Tetra Pak
• 🧃Recycling Tetra Pak at Our Recycling Station
• 🥫 Aluminum and Metal cans
• 🥫Recycling aluminum and metal at Our Station
• 🗞️ Paper and cardboard
• 📦Recycling paper and cardboard at Our Station
• 🍕 📦 Wet or greasy paper / food packaging
• 🍾 Glass
• 🍾 Recycling glass at Our Recycling Station
• 🪞Mosaic container at Our Recycling Station
• 🔋 Special Waste
• 🔌 Special Waste at Our Recycling Station
• 🔋 Batteries at Our Recycling Station
• 💉 Bioinfectious waste
• 🗑️ Ordinary Waste - Non recyclable waste (landfill)
• 🛻 Construction waste
• 🔄 How to Handle Construction Waste
• Where do we put the waste?
• Organic waste
• Recyclable waste and garbage
• Why do we clean our trash?
• What are our recommendations for every house hold?
• When does our trash get picked up?
• Organic waste
• Recyclable waste
• Ordinary trash - non recyclable waste
• Where does our trash go?
• Organic waste
• Recyclable waste
• Ordinary waste - non recyclable
• Zero Waste Tips
• 🏡 Kitchen & Food
• ☕ Drinks & On-the-Go
• 🛍️ Shopping & Packaging
• 🚿 Bathroom & Personal Care
• 👕 Laundry & Cleaning
• 📚 Office & School
• 🛠️ Home & Lifestyle
• 🚗 Travel & Transport
• 🐾 Pets
• 🏗️ Construction & DIY

Why do we separate and recycle our waste?

Over the last 30 years, waste production has nearly doubled, turning our beautiful planet into a giant garbage dump. Even here in Costa Rica, a country known for its stunning nature and rich biodiversity, we face a serious solid waste crisis. Poor waste management has led to growing piles of trash in landfills, illegal dumps, and even our rivers and oceans.

While Costa Rica has taken meaningful steps — like banning single-use plastics in national parks and reducing plastic bags in supermarkets — the challenges remain. Low recycling rates, insufficient infrastructure, and limited transportation systems continue to put pressure on our environment, our wildlife, and even our tourism-based economy.

Recycling is one of the simplest and most powerful actions we can take to reduce urban waste and fight climate change. Every time we recycle, we help avoid generating new pollution, conserve natural resources, and give the Earth a chance to heal.

Plastic pollution, in particular, is devastating — millions of marine animals die every year from ingesting or getting trapped in plastic.

While recycling alone won’t solve everything, it’s a vital part of the solution — especially when we pair it with mindful consumer habits, like avoiding single-use items and choosing sustainable packaging.

Here are 7 reasons to recycle:

• 🌬️ It reduces air and water pollution.
• 👩‍🌾 It creates jobs and supports green economies.
• 🌳 Every ton of recycled paper saves five trees.
• 🌡️ It helps combat global warming by cutting pollution.
• 💧 Using recycled paper conserves our natural resources.
• 🔁 Throwing recyclables away wastes valuable materials.
• 🌿 Recycling gives the planet time to reforest and recover.

Small Actions, Big Impact

Each time you choose to recycle, you’re doing something beautiful — you’re saying yes to a cleaner planet, yes to protecting wildlife, and yes to future generations.

Together, we can turn the tide — one bottle, one can, one paper at a time.

How do we separate our waste in Alegría?

To make our recycling system efficient and sustainable, we each play a part — from separating materials at home to using our shared recycling station responsibly. We’re working together to reduce unnecessary plastic waste — that’s why at the recycling station we use large reusable containers instead of disposable trash bags. That means you can put all your recycling waste at the recycling station directly into the big bags, no need to use plastic bags.

🍌 Organic Waste

Did you know that around 60% of household waste is made up of organic matter?

This includes everyday kitchen scraps like fruit and vegetable peels, coffee grounds, tea leaves, and eggshells — but not animal remains, dairy, or oils.

Through the beautiful natural processes of composting and vermicomposting (worm farming), these organic materials transform into rich, fertile soil full of nutrients and minerals — a true gift back to the Earth. This also includes all green waste from pruning and maintaining our gardens and green areas.

⚠️ All organic compostable waste needs to be chopped down in smaller pieces, which helps the composting process.

🥗 Compost stalls at Our Garden

You’ll find our compost area just past the garden dome.

As you walk into the garden:

1. Follow the path, through the workers’ area.
2. Continue past the structure with the sink and covered walkway.
3. There you’ll see the compost stalls, ready to receive your organic waste.

🪴 How to contribute:

• Add your compostable materials into the stall.
• Top with a soil/straw mixture (you’ll find clear instructions posted on site).
• If you bring large pieces of fruits or vegetables, please chop them with a machete or shovel — this helps speed up the composting process.

💧 Keep It Clean & Flowing

Near the compost barrels, you’ll find a wash station to rinse your empty compost pails.

Please:

• 🧽 Leave the area tidy and clean.
• 🚰 Make sure the water tap is fully turned off after use.

✅ What we can compost:

🥚Eggshells, 🌮food scraps, spoiled food, ☕ coffee filters and grounds, 🍵 tea bags, 📜 napkins, 🍕pizza boxes (cut down in pieces) 🍂 organic garden waste, cotton bands from our harvest

⚠️ Keep them separate:

🍍 Pineapple TOPS (the top leaves -leave these aside and they will be planted)

🥥 Coconut shells (leave these aside and they will be used for mulch or biochar)

🫘 Seeds you can also separate and donate to the seed bank at the farm

❌ What doesn’t belong to the compost

🍳 Oils, 🫗 liquids, 🦴 bones, 💩 pet feces 🥩 animal products

🥛 Compostable/disposable plates or cups often need special places for composting. In lack of having special facilities for that it would go to the normal waste. We recommend using banana leaves instead of plates. This grows around here for free and can go afterwards to the compost.

🍳 Oil collection

We collect leftover cooking oil at the compost area in a big plastic bottle. With this we can make soap.

Let the oil cool after use and pour the used oil into a 1l plastic bottle. Deliver it to the oil collection at the compost area.

✅ What is received:

Vegetable oil from frying pans, fryers and canned goods (for example tuna), butter

🫗 Liquids

Liquids like leftover drinks, spoiled milk, etc. are put around trees.

🦴 Bones

Bones must be cleaned from meat residues, then our farm team can burn it with the biochar. Collect and store the bones in the freezer for the next drop off time. The bones can brought to the farm on xx.

💩 Pet feces

🐶 Dog feces must be picked up. Use either leaves or a shovel and throw the poop into high grass or tall trees. Don’t put the poop next to veggies, pineapples or herbs! We recommend to have a dog poop composter on your own lot.

🐱 If you use a wood litter you can compost the poop on your own lot.

🥩 Animal Products

Leftover meat or other animal products do not belong in the compost. This goes double bagged, to contain odors and leaks, to the ordinary trash.

🧴 Packaging, Plastics and Tetra Pak

Plastic pollution has become one of the greatest global environmental challenges of our time. The massive production and improper disposal of plastics — especially single-use items — are polluting our lands, rivers, and oceans, harming wildlife, and even affecting our climate.

When plastic is not managed properly, it doesn’t just disappear. It lingers in the environment for hundreds of years, slowly breaking down into microplastics that contaminate soil, water, and food chains.

Wild animals often ingest or get entangled in plastic waste, leading to suffering and death.

In Costa Rica, only about 9–10% of plastic is recycled, meaning most of it ends up in landfills, waterways, or nature. This reality invites us to take action — right here, right now — through awareness, conscious consumption, and proper recycling.

🔍 Understanding Plastic Labels

Not all plastics are created equal — some can be recycled, others cannot.

Most plastic products have a small triangle symbol with a number, which identifies the type of plastic:

1️⃣ PET – Polyethylene Terephthalate

2️⃣ HDPE – High-Density Polyethylene

3️⃣ PVC – Polyvinyl Chloride

4️⃣ LDPE – Low-Density Polyethylene

5️⃣ PP – Polypropylene

6️⃣ PS – Polystyrene

(Look for these numbers on bottles and containers — they help us recycle correctly!)

⚠️ Keep in mind that a lot of our delivery services take back and reuse their plastic containers! Ask with the next delivery, if they can take it back.

♻️ Recycling Plastics at Our Station

You’ll find our Recycling Station near the entrance.

⚠️ All plastic must be clean and completely dry before recycling.

Leftover food or moisture contaminates other materials and prevents proper recycling.

✅ What we can recycle:

Bottles and plastic containers cleaned and dry

Plastic packaging which is flexible and stretchable and doesn’t make sound or wrinkle when you squeeze it. For example: Plastic wrap, plastic bags, plastic packaging (of beans, rice, flours, grains, toilet paper, furniture ..), bubble wrap

⚠️ If you have hard non stretchable big plastic bags (from pet food for example), please donate them to the shelf, that we can reuse them as trash bags.

❌ What can’t be recycled:

Metallic plastics (from cookies, snacks), laminated plastics, blister pack, PVC pipes, plastic nets (from potatoes, garlic, oranges, ..), straws, cellophane, plastic packaging which is harder, don’t stretch and makes a sound when wrinkled

All of this can’t be recycled and goes to the non recyclable waste, which will end up at the landfill.

🧃 Tetra Pak

Tetra Pak containers — the cartons we use for milk, juices, and other drinks — are made from a mix of paper, plastic, and aluminum. This combination keeps food fresh and safe, but it also means they must be recycled correctly to avoid becoming long-lasting waste.

In Costa Rica, recycling Tetra Pak helps reduce the amount of mixed-material waste that ends up in landfills and supports local recycling industries that turn these cartons into new materials — such as roofing sheets, paper products, or furniture panels.

When we recycle Tetra Pak, we’re helping transform what could have been trash into useful, sustainable resources — giving new life to every carton we use.

🧃Recycling Tetra Pak at Our Recycling Station

Please bring your clean and flattened Tetra Pak containers to the recycling station near the entrance.

✅ What we can recycle:

🥛 Milk, juice, and plant-based drink cartons, 🍅 Tetra Pak food containers (like tomato sauce or soups)

⚠️ All Tetra Pak must be clean and completely dry and flattened before recycling.

❌ What we can´t recycle:

Dirty, wet, or unwashed cartons.

🥫 Aluminum and Metal cans

Aluminum and metal are some of the most valuable materials to recycle — and the good news is, they can be recycled endlessly without losing quality!

In Costa Rica, millions of cans and metal containers are thrown away every year, yet recycling them takes 95% less energy than producing new ones.

Every can or piece of scrap metal you recycle helps reduce mining, save natural resources, and cut greenhouse gas emissions that fuel climate change.

When we recycle metal, we’re not just preventing waste — we’re turning it into opportunity: clean air, green jobs, and a healthier planet for all.

Aluminum and metal cans can be recycled and are collected at the recycling station near the entrance.

🥫Recycling aluminum and metal at Our Station

✅ What we can recycle:

🥫 Aluminum cans (soda, beer, juice), 🥣 Tin cans (vegetables, soups, etc.), 🧂 Metal lids and bottle caps, 🍽️ Small clean metal objects (like foil trays, pieces of wire, etc.)

⚠️ All aluminum and metal needs to be cleaned, dried and compacted before recycling.

It is recommended to remove the lid and insert it into the container, then compact it.

❌ What can’t be recycled:

Aluminum foil, metallic packaging from snacks, coffee bag

This items can’t be recycled and goes to the non recyclable waste, which will end up at the landfill.

🗞️ Paper and cardboard

Paper and cardboard are part of our everyday lives — from packaging and notebooks to food boxes and flyers. Unfortunately, much of it ends up in the trash, even though it’s one of the easiest materials to recycle!

In Costa Rica, recycling paper and cardboard helps reduce deforestation, save energy and water, and protect biodiversity.

Every ton of paper recycled saves five trees and prevents tons of waste from entering landfills and rivers.

When we recycle, we’re not just managing waste — we’re giving nature time to breathe again.

📦Recycling paper and cardboard at Our Station

Bring your clean and dry paper and cardboard to the recycling station near the entrance.

✅ What we can recycle:

📦 Cardboard boxes and packaging (flattened), 📰 Newspapers and magazines, 📚 Office paper, notebooks, and flyers, 🛍️ Paper bags and envelopes (without plastic lining)

⚠️ All materials must be clean, completely dry and flattened. Any plastic, tape or staples must be removed. Wet or greasy paper can’t be recycled.

❌ What can’t be recycled:

🧻 Paper towels, used toilet paper, tissues, waxed or laminated paper, or wet or greasy paper / food packaging (like pizza boxes), carbon paper, aluminum foil, chinese paper

🍕 📦 Wet or greasy paper / food packaging

Wet or greasy paper/food packaging (like pizza boxes) can go to the compost, but they need to be cut down in pieces.

All the other items can’t be recycled and goes to the non recyclable waste, which will end up at the landfill.

⚠️ Check your septic system, if you can flush 🧻toilet paper. If you can flush it, then flush it. Otherwise it goes to the ordinary trash.

🍾 Glass

Glass is one of nature’s most durable materials — and one of the most sustainable to recycle. Unlike many other materials, glass can be recycled endlessly without losing its purity or quality.

Unfortunately, much of it still ends up in landfills, where it takes thousands of years to decompose. In Costa Rica, recycling glass helps reduce energy use, save raw materials, and prevent pollution from glass waste in our rivers and natural areas.

When you recycle glass, you’re not just cleaning up — you’re turning waste into something new and beautiful, again and again.

🍾 Recycling glass at Our Recycling Station

Please bring your clean glass containers to the recycling station near the entrance.

✅ What we recycle:

🍶 Glass bottles (wine, beer, juice, etc.), 🫙 Glass jars and containers (for food, sauces, or condiments)

⚠️ All glass must be clean and completely dry. Remove lids, caps and labels.

Lids and caps go to the aluminum and metal recycling. Labels go to the non recoverable waste and end up in the landfill.

⚠️ Broken glass must be separated in a resistant bag/container.

❌ What can’t be recycled:

Ceramics, mirrors, light bulbs, window glass, or broken glass with chemical residue.

🪞Mosaic container at Our Recycling Station

Broken ceramics, mirrors and leftover tiles (also broken) we collect in the mosaic container. Feel free to use items for your projects.

🔋 Special Waste

Not all waste is created equal. Some materials — like electronics, batteries, and old appliances — need special care because they contain valuable resources but also toxic substances that can harm nature if not handled properly.

This type of non-traditional waste is produced more slowly than our daily trash. It includes metals, electrical and electronic equipment, and any other device that uses electricity and is no longer in use — whether due to malfunction or obsolescence.

When we recycle these materials responsibly, we’re helping recover valuable metals and plastics, reduce pollution, and prevent dangerous chemicals from contaminating our soil and water.

🔌 Special Waste at Our Recycling Station

Please bring your special waste to the recycling station near the entrance.

This includes:

• 🧺 Large and small household appliances
• 💻 Computers, phones, and telecommunications equipment
• 📺 Consumer electronics (TVs, radios, stereos, etc.)
• 💡 Lighting devices (lamps, bulbs, etc.)
• 🔧 Power tools and electronic equipment
• 🧸 Electric toys and gadgets
• 🎛️ Surveillance and control instruments
• 🏧 Vending machines and similar devices
• 🔋 Batteries (see below for special instructions)

🔋 Batteries at Our Recycling Station

Batteries are highly polluting and must never be thrown away with regular trash.

Just one watch battery can contaminate all the water in an Olympic-sized pool. Please bring them to our recycling station. There we have a plastic bottle for the collection.

💉 Bioinfectious waste

🗑️ Ordinary Waste - Non recyclable waste (landfill)

Even in a world moving toward zero waste, there are still some materials that cannot be recycled or composted. These are known as non-recyclable waste — items that, for now, must go to landfill because they’re made from mixed materials, contaminated with food, or simply not yet supported by recycling systems in Costa Rica.

While this waste may seem small compared to everything we recycle and compost, it still matters how we handle it.

By reducing, reusing, and disposing mindfully, we help protect the soil, rivers, and the natural beauty that surrounds us.

✅ What goes to non recyclable:

• Dirty or greasy food packaging
• Snack wrappers, chip bags, candy wrappers
• Coffee pods and all mixed-material packaging
• Used toilet paper, tissues, and paper towels
• Styrofoam
• Cosmetic packaging that can’t be separated
• Waxed or laminated cardboard or paper
• Broken items made from mixed materials (plastic + metal + paper)
• Blister packs
• Straws, plastic nets and plastic packaging which is harder, don’t stretch and makes a sound when wrinkled
• Cellophane
• Aluminum foil
• Diapers, condoms, hygiene products
• Produce stickers
• Leftover Animal Products double bagged to contain odors and leaks

The best thing we can do is avoid buying products with this type of packaging whenever possible, as they are generally extremely polluting, and prefer those that we can recycle.

❌ What doesn’t belong in ordinary waste:

• Organic waste
• all of the recyclable waste which is mentioned above

🛻 Construction waste

Every construction or renovation project — big or small — leaves behind materials that can impact our environment. Construction waste includes leftover building materials like cement, bricks, tiles, wood, metal, glass, and packaging, as well as debris from repairs or demolitions.

When not handled properly, these materials can pollute soil and waterways, create unsafe dumping sites, and take up valuable space in landfills. But with mindful action, we can transform this challenge into an opportunity for reuse, recycling, and regeneration.

🪣 What Construction Waste Includes

Common examples are:

• 🧱 Bricks, tiles, and cement debris
• 🌲 Wood and sawdust
• 🪵 Pallets and wooden beams
• 🪨 Stone, gravel, and sand residues
• 🧰 Metals, pipes, and wiring
• 📦 Plastic and paper packaging from materials
• 🚪 Glass, windows, and fixtures

🔄 How to Handle Construction Waste

Separate materials whenever possible — wood, metal, plastic, paper and cardboard, glass, and rubble should each go in their own pile or container.

✅ What we can accept:

• Leftover materials we can use for repairs or community projects. Reach out to Tavo to coordinate.
• Wood leftovers we can take for the farm to make biochar. Reach out to Tavo to check, if and when we can take it.
• Metal leftovers and concrete leftovers we can also sometimes take. Reach out to Tavo to check, if and when we can take it.
• Broken Tiles we can take at the recycling Station. Put it please in the mosaic container.

❌ Never dump construction waste in green areas, rivers, or community compost sites. According to national regulations, the owner must arrange for their disposal through a facility authorized by the Ministry of Health.

Where do we put the waste?

On our map you find the locations of our different collection points for waste

Organic waste

You’ll find our compost area just past the garden dome.

As you walk into the garden:

1. Follow the path, through the workers’ area.
2. Continue past the structure with the sink and covered walkway.
3. There you’ll see the compost stalls, ready to receive your organic waste.

There is also a small compost bin in the Hive on the left next to the sink.

Recyclable waste and garbage

The recycling and garbage station is located in a grey building near the main entrance gate. For those without the means to get to it, please contact Tavo/NEI to make a pickup arrangement.

There is also a small recycling and garbage station at the Hive and also next to the Hub.

Why do we clean our trash?

Before bringing your recyclables to the station, please make sure everything is clean and completely dry.

Why it matters:

👐 All recyclables are handled manually by our team and partners, who sort each item by hand.

🐜 Food scraps attract animals like ants, iguanas, and other curious visitors.

🌱 Moisture causes mold, which can ruin recyclable materials and make them unusable.

By taking a few moments to rinse and dry your recyclables, you’re showing care for our team, our wildlife, and our shared environment.

What are our recommendations for every house hold?

• Compost bucket (use a bucket which you can carry easily when full. Empty the bucket regularly to avoid insects)
• Container/bag for bones
• Empty plastic bottle with lid for leftover cooking oil
• 1 - 4 bins for recyclables - depends if you separate directly in our household or at the recycling station
• 1 Bin for garbage
• If you have a dog or cat we recommend a composter for the feces on your own lot

When does our trash get picked up?

Organic waste

You have to bring the compost to the compost area at the garden, or start a compost on your own lot.

Recyclable waste

Is collected every fourth Wednesday of the month by the Municipality San Mateo. The dates are:

• January 28
• February 25
• March 25
• April 22
• May 27
• June 24
• July 22

Ordinary trash - non recyclable waste

Is collected every Thursday at 6:00 am by the Municipality San Mateo.

Where does our trash go?

Organic waste

We collect the organic waste at the compost station in our community garden and use it for our plants. You can also do your own compost on your lot.

Recyclable waste

Gets picked up every fourth Wednesday of the month by the Municipality San Mateo. recycling station to Orotina.

Ordinary waste - non recyclable

Gets picked up weekly by the Municipality San Mateo and gets delivered to the Miramar landfill.

Zero Waste Tips

🏡 Kitchen & Food

• Use cloth napkins instead of paper napkins.
• Replace paper towels with washable bamboo cloths or old rags.
• Store food in glass jars, beeswax wraps, or silicone bags instead of plastic wrap.
• Buy dry goods (rice, beans, oats) in bulk instead of individual packaging.
• Choose loose fruits & veggies at the market instead of plastic-wrapped.
• Freeze leftovers in reused glass jars or containers.
• Save veggie scraps to make broth before composting.
• Bring your own containers to restaurants for takeout.

☕ Drinks & On-the-Go

• Carry a reusable water bottle (metal or glass).
• Bring your own coffee cup to cafés.
• Use a refillable thermos for tea/coffee at home.
• Skip plastic straws → carry a metal, bamboo, or silicone straw.
• Choose returnable glass bottles where available (like local sodas or beer).

🛍️ Shopping & Packaging

• Always bring a cloth/reusable shopping bag.
• Reuse cardboard boxes or woven baskets at markets.
• Buy from farmers’ markets to reduce packaging. Often they take back their containers.
• Choose products with minimal or recyclable packaging.
• Prefer items in glass or paper over plastic.
• Say no to single-use freebies (pens, flyers, promo bags).

🚿 Bathroom & Personal Care

• Switch to a safety razor (metal, refillable) instead of disposable razors.
• Use bar soap & bar shampoo/conditioner instead of plastic bottles.
• Try a bamboo toothbrush instead of plastic.
• Use toothpaste tablets or powders instead of tubes.
• Switch to refillable deodorant or make your own.
• Menstrual products: use a menstrual cup, washable pads, or period underwear.
• Use washable cotton rounds instead of disposable makeup wipes.

👕 Laundry & Cleaning

• Wash with cold water to save energy.
• Use soap nuts or eco-friendly detergent.
• Hang-dry clothes instead of using a dryer.
• Replace dryer sheets with wool dryer balls.
• Clean with vinegar, baking soda, lemon instead of chemical cleaners.
• Refill detergents & cleaners at bulk/refill stations when possible.

📚 Office & School

• Go digital instead of printing when possible.
• If printing, use both sides of paper.
• Reuse scrap paper for notes or kids’ drawing.
• Refill pens & markers instead of tossing.
• Choose sturdy notebooks with recycled paper.

🛠️ Home & Lifestyle

• Repair broken items (clothes, electronics, furniture) before buying new.
• Use second-hand or thrift shops for clothes & furniture.
• Upcycle glass jars for storage or decoration.
• Share rarely used tools in the community instead of everyone buying their own.
• Borrow or rent items (ladders, power tools, party chairs) instead of buying.
• Host swap events (clothes, books, toys).

🚗 Travel & Transport

• Carpool with neighbors.
• Use public transport or bikes where possible.
• Carry snacks in reusable containers to avoid packaged food on trips.
• Bring your own utensils (spoon/fork/chopsticks) when traveling.

🐾 Pets

• Use bulk dry food or refillable bins instead of small plastic bags.
• Compost pet-safe waste like sawdust bedding.
• Repurpose old clothes as pet blankets.
• Reuse pet food bags for trash bags.

🏗️ Construction & DIY

• Reuse leftover wood, nails, tiles, or cement where possible.
• Choose natural finishes (lime, clay, wood oils) instead of chemical paints.
• Borrow or rent tools instead of buying everything new.
• Donate leftover materials to others in the community.