Private Consortium Will
Buy Up Garbage
The Costa Rican
consortium Amaral Isotex
will be giving several
municipalities a respite
from their constant
refuse problems by
buying up their garbage
with the intention of
processing it and
converting it to
biodiesel fuel and
fertilizer.
Amaral Isotex will pay
municipalities us$2 per
metric ton, according to
executive director of
Caproa, Johnny Rodríguez.
The executive said that
talks began in February
due to the problem that
no one wants the solid
waste.
Erasmo Guevara,
representing Amaral and
Enrique Odio Soto of
Isotex, said they became
interested in the
project and brought a
group of other companies
resulting in a mutual
agreement with the
municipalities of
Sarapiquí, Guácimo,
Siquirres, Matina and
Talamanc, while the
municiplaities of Limón
and Pococí are under
consideration.
The Municipalidad de
Desamparados is also
interested in
participating in the
project and has set up a
special commission,
headed by councilwoman,
María Luisa Valverde,
who will belooking at
the legal aspects of the
contract offered by the
consortium.
Also interested in the
project are the
municipalities of the
provices of Guanacaste.
Rodríguez explained that
the consortium will buy
the waste from the
municipalities, though
only 70% will be
processed. The waste is
separated by
"professional divers"
using gloves, masks and
other equiptment not to
endanger their health,
who will wade through
the tons of garbage.
Rodríguez added that 30%
of the trash will be
packed and sent back to
the municipality after
it has been treated,
leaving it up to the
local municipalities to
decide on to how to
dispose of it.
Financing for the
project will be bythe
Banco Centroamericano de
Integración Económica (BCIE),
who is currently
involved in similar
projects in Guatemala
and Colombia.
Rodríguez said that the
program will be of
special benefit to the
Atlantic region.
In each municipality the
consortium will be
building a collection
centre to receive the
waste, where it will be
treated and will install
a treatment plant and a
reactor as part of the
program.
Rodríguez added that
once all the
municipalities have
signed their respective
contracts, an official
ceremony will be held
and production will
begin within four
months. |
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