As of January 1, 2014, Nosara’s garbage collection fee services went up by 50%, increasing from $10 to $15 per month.
“There had not been a rate change in many many years, during which the costs of diesel, labor and materials have all increased”, explained Elizabeth Adams, who voluntarily collects payments for those in the “American Project” for Microsan.
Microsan is a private company run by a local family and provides collection services for the Nosara area, including Nosara center, Los Arenales, Santa Teresita, Santa Marta, Guiones, Pelada, Esperanza and Garza.
At the same time, the Nosara Recycling Association is encouraging community members to reduce the amount of trash being sent to the community’s garbage dump. According to engineer Natalie Vega Araya of EARTH University, who conducted a study of Nosara’s garbage situation in 2007, 50% of waste consumption is organic materials. That means half of what normally goes in the trash bin can actually be tossed into the jungle or used to make compost. Another 25% is recyclable.
The Nosara dump has already been ordered to close three times by the Administrative Environmental Court, which the municipal mayor is appealing on the basis that the municipality cannot invest in public funds in private property since the dump is located on land owned by the Nosara Civic Association.
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