Beginning in the next course period, the more than 1,500 students at Nicoya Liceo will participate in a recycling micromanagement project. The project was initiated by a student from EARTH University in Liberia, Juan José Campos. The project will be taken on by the environmental committee of the high school, supported by the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Telecommunications, Coopeguanacaste, the municipality and Hacienda Pinilla.

The initial cost is foreseen to be1,600,000 colones ($3,200), which will be used to buy a manual lift, a compactor, 34 garbage tins and a scale.

The project principally aims to establish a center for recovering recyclable materials generated by the city. It will have a community focus and will use logistic support from public and private entities. It envisions improving the sanitary conditions, the landscape and the environment in the canton.

What they seek. The implementation of recycling micromanagement will bring with it benefits that aim at more sustainable living in the school, touching on the environment as well as social, economic and organizational points. It is expected to bring academic prestige to the institution through greater environmental awareness.

Juan Jose Campos said the initiative hopes the students will develop as little managers and to go on developing in environmental education.

“We mean to orient the students with the governmental actions setting priorities and establishing alignments, establishing goals that will orient municipal plans, sector programs, projects and public initiatives.”

“The collection center of the Liceo will provide the students with an environmental education based on the basic concepts of sustainable development,” Campos said.

Recycling during the summer. The organizers’ plan is to equip each hallway of the high school with two garbage tins and each classroom with a cardboard box. The students will deposit the material that will be recycled and all the garbage thus will turn into money for the institution. The money will be invested in protection of the environment, such as placing garbage cans in the city and planting trees, among other activities focused on preservation.

The environmental committee of the Nicoya Liceo is composed of Myriam Zuñiga, Yalile Toruño and Florentina Toruño.

Ana Saray Briceño, representative of Minaet, indicated that the project was expected to begin before classes end for the holiday. This will leave things ready for the start of the new year. During the vacation time the Committee will be working to strengthen the initiative.

The collection center will be located where the farmers’ market was. Coopeguanacaste donated 5,000,000 colones ($10,000) to build a storage shed at the site.