Costa Rica

Names of actions:
1. Approval of the creation of incentives (2%) for trade to replace single-use plastics.

Targeted products:
Via patent regulation. San Carlos approved a 2% incentive in the payment of commercial

Brief description:
A la fecha, 3 municipios, San Carlos, Tibás y Osa Osa, han aprobado la creación de incentivos comerciales para la sustitución de plásticos de un solo uso. Sin embargo, solo San Carlos y Tibás lo han puesto en práctica mediante patentes, y Tibás lo hizo a través de una tarifa diferenciada para la recolección de residuos.

In progress
It is an ongoing process to continue to grow in the direction of creating incentives for change.

We have seen a positive improvement over the last two years

Comments:
It is an ongoing process to continue to grow in the direction of creating incentives. 42 municipalities and 3 district councils have adhered to the strategy and have issued guidelines to their suppliers not to purchase single-use plastic products, as a first step towards changing the regulations.

Names of actions:
1. Prohibition of single-use plastics in the public sector.

Targeted products:
bags, straws, single-use crockery and glasses, plastic packaging

Brief description:
Guideline for the prohibition of single-use plastics in the public sector.

Names of actions:
2. Prohibition of the entry of single-use plastic into protected areas.

Targeted products:
bags, straws, single-use crockery and glasses, plastic packaging

Brief description:
Guideline National System of Protected Areas DE-944-2020.

Names of actions:
3. Law to combat plastic pollution and protect the environment No.9786-2019.

Targeted products:
bags and straws. Regulations for the production and commercialization of plastic bottles

Brief description:
Prohibition of commercialization and free delivery of plastic bags and straws. In the case of bottles, sustainability requirements must be met for production and marketing

We have seen a positive improvement over the last two years

Comments:

1. It is a ban on acquisitions in the public sector.
2. It is a prohibition for the non-entry of bottles, packages, glasses, bags, to protected areas.

In progress

We have seen a positive improvement over the last two years

Comments:
The plastics industry and distribution companies are taking a progressive turn in product design

In preparation

We have seen a positive improvement over the last two years

Comments:
At the moment, the regulations related to plastic waste have been general, but regulations and actions for change on the subject are becoming more and more specific.

In preparation

We have seen a positive improvement over the last two years

Comments:
As indicated, the regulations created to date have been general, but there are plans to specify in some aspects related to plastic waste, taking microplastics into account.

In preparation

We have seen a positive improvement over the last two years

Comments:
Yes, there are different actions (such as those outlined in this document) with stakeholders linked to the issue of waste management both in land and offshore generation.

Names of actions:
Innovative Law and National Waste Plan in which implementation must be fine-tuned.
National Strategy for Single-use Plastic and National Strategy for the Recovery, Separation and Recovery of Waste (Recycling Strategy).

We have seen a positive improvement over the last two years

Comments:
The Costa Rican regulation on the issue of comprehensive waste management is robust, but the implementation, monitoring and generation of data must be fine-tuned

No

We have seen a positive improvement over the last two years

Comments:
To date, four actions that impact the marine environment are implemented: the National Marine Waste Plan, diagnosis and action plan for two fishing sectors in the central and northern Pacific of the country, management of plastic waste and fishing gear in the central Pacific and pollution reduction project, extended projector responsibility and circular economy in the Costa Rican Caribbean, within the framework of the PROMAR project (Dominican Republic, Colombia and Costa Rica).

In progress

We have seen a positive improvement over the last two years

Comments:
It is in the process of linking the management of marine waste with the theme of the blue economy together with the national system of conservation areas of the Ministry of Environment and Energy of Costa Rica

Names of actions:
Coordination of cleaning days in communities and coastal areas. Design of a Guide for the Collection of Waste on the Beach

Brief description:
Cleaning and collection activities on the beach have been coordinated with fishermen and fishermen, as well as with Non-Governmental Organizations that work on the country's coast.
Similarly, within the framework of the PROMAR project in the Costa Rican Caribbean, a guide was designed for cleaning up waste on the beach. This guide has been put into practice in four coastal locations in Costa Rica.

We have seen a positive improvement over the last two years

Names of actions:
Conditioning of a Coast Guard service boat, for the recovery of fishing gear abandoned at sea

Brief description:
With the projects with fishermen and fisherwomen that are being carried out, the cleaning of waste in the ocean begins. With the Coast Guard's spear refurbishment, the framework of the abandoned fishing gear collection project is expected to increase ocean cleanup

We have seen a positive improvement over the last two years

Names of actions:

1. Circular Economy Strategy
2. Diagnosis of the existence of natural fibers that replace single-use plastic.
3. Incorporation of at least 50% recycled material in the design of packaging, packaging and bottles.

Brief description:
It has started with three strategic actions that reinforce what is consulted here.
1-With the circular economy strategy, it is intended that companies close their production circles, in order to avoid contamination of the external environment.
2-A diagnostic study has been carried out on the supply of raw materials (natural fibers) in Costa Rica, which can meet the needs for the substitution of plastic raw materials;
3-The incorporation of at least 50% recycled material in new products (packaging, packaging and bottles). Everything on the side of the reinforcement of the Extended Responsibility of the Producer (REP)

We have seen a positive improvement over the last two years

Comments:
As of the date of this report, there is already a database of 35 suppliers of alternative products to single-use plastics and accessory products such as equipment for home composting, all of them marketers and importers. From importing producers of single-use items made from natural fibers, such as biopolymers. An importer of resin (compostable biopolymer) and a supplier of compostable preforms for packaging, and manufacturers of compostable bags and products have also registered.

Names of actions:

1. Circular Economy Strategy
2. Rethinking plastic consumption: from ideas to action.

Brief description:
This process begins with the aim of working on innovation in product design, new natural fiber raw materials and the drive for further research. With the Circular Economy strategy and other projects that will be promoted (at the end of April 2023, the project called Rethinking the Consumption of Single-Use Plastic will be launched: from ideas to action) greater results will be achieved by regard.

We have seen a positive improvement over the last two years

If yes, give a brief description of your efforts related to education:

Along with the Comprehensive Waste Management Law No.8839, a National Comprehensive Waste Management Plan was designed and updated for formal, primary, and secondary education. In addition, several non-governmental organizations develop non-formal educational processes in communities and grassroots organizations. In addition to the projects outlined in this document and that are implemented, non-formal educational processes have been designed and implemented in order to strengthen citizen responsibility and awareness.

We have seen a positive improvement over the last two years

National level:

Names of actions:

1. National Strategy for Recovery, Separation and Recovery of Waste.
2. Single Use Plastic Strategy.

Brief description:

1. In the past, six shorts on separation and types of waste were designed and advertised for six months on television, radio, and social networks. At least five training events on the Recycling Strategy, for public servants from public institutions and private companies throughout the country.
2. As of the date of this report, through the Plastic Free Zone Volunteer Network, different activities were carried out that included 550 volunteers and 3000 hours (lectures, training, support in workshops, beach cleaning and fairs).
   A video was made with the participation of volunteers at Guacalillo beach and the Guarros school in the Garabito community. https://youtube/mn6Bl_7zjC0

Arthur Wang, specialist in upcycling, was invited by the National Strategy for plastic substitution, as the main speaker at the 2018 Sustainability, Energy and Evolution congress.

Local level:

Names of actions:
1-Design and dissemination of educational materials for the population

Brief description:
Within the framework of the projects that are carried out in the Pacific and Caribbean seas, educational materials with illustrations have been developed to better understand and sensitize the community.

Names of actions:
2-Drawings in the sewers with messages to raise awareness about not depositing waste on sidewalks.

Brief description:
Some municipalities, such as the one in the province of San José, have designed drawings and educational messages on storm sewer covers with the legend "sea pollution begins here" and raise awareness not to deposit waste on city sidewalks

International / Regional level:

Names of actions:
Committee for the Management of Marine Residues of Latin America and the Caribbean

Brief description:
Within the framework of the Committee for Marine Waste Management in Latin America and the Caribbean, legal instruments related to waste management and the National Marine Waste Plan for marine waste management have been shared.

National level:

We have seen a positive improvement over the last two years

Local level:

Comments:
Cody Simpson's video was presented to the Secretary General of the United Nations and broadcast worldwide, focusing Costa Rica's efforts to reduce the impact of plastics on the environment.

Arthur Wang's proposal for upcycling had media coverage in the mass media and social networks, creating great interest in circular economy processes with high added value in products made from recycled raw materials or generated as waste from agro-industrial processes such as natural fibers from crops such as pineapple, palm, cane, rice and dedicated crops such as abaca, jute, cabuya.

International / Regional level:

We have seen a positive improvement over the last two years

Names of actions:

1. Investigation and Monitoring of waste on Pacific beaches.
2. Investigation and Monitoring of waste carried by marine currents and presence in sectors of Caribbean beaches.

Brief description:

1. Within the framework of the single-use plastic project, research has been carried out in various sectors of the Pacific coast, where amounts and types of plastic particles per square meter have been shown.
2. While the Caribbean (with the PROMAR project) and using the Monitoring Guide for plastic waste on the beach, waste carried by ocean currents (waste from national and international products) has been identified, and types and amounts of waste have been identified on the beach.

We have seen a positive improvement over the last two years

No

Comments:
To date, no work has been done internationally on research or monitoring of the presence of waste on the beach or in the ocean.