What's happening? Reducing waste produced in Puerto Rico is urgent. At a recent public hearing, the DRNA acknowledged that only about 7% of waste is recycled in Puerto Rico.
The agency's 2023 Characterization Study found that plastic discarded on the Island has increased 70% since 2003, when the last such study was conducted.
Reducing waste and managing it responsibly grows more urgent every day. In Puerto Rico, as of 2019, 11 of 29 landfills had a closure order from the Environmental Protection Agency, while seven others did not fully comply with federal and state laws, according to 9 Millones.
🚮 Controversy over the plastics law. On June 1, 2024, Ley 51 del 2022 takes effect, banning single-use plastics.
The law sparked a debate between business owners and environmentalists, as the Agriculture and Natural Resources Commission considered delaying its implementation by two more years, according to El Vocero.
Guide: Where to recycle in Puerto Rico
♻️ How can I start reducing? To answer that question, we spoke with Nanushka Santiago Guerra, a creator of educational content about waste management in Puerto Rico.
Through her social media, Santiago Guerra shares tips and locations that recycle materials on the Island.
How to proceed: "Do the little you can, however you can. Even if it's not perfect or ideal, at least start today. Then you change as you go. If you find better practices, you adopt them later. But for now, do what you can."
Avoid single-use plastics
Single-use plastics are among the most polluting materials on the planet. According to the DRNA, plastics make up 17% of waste in local landfills.
For parties, if you need to use disposable plates, buy them in biodegradable or compostable materials, such as cardboard. That way, the material has a much lower environmental impact. Ideally, always use reusable plates.
Learn what can be recycled
In Puerto Rico, the most commonly recycled materials are No. 1 and No. 2 plastic, corrugated cardboard and unlaminated paper, and aluminum. To begin your education, learn to read plastic labels to identify what is recyclable. Below, some educational resources:
♻️ Mapa de Manejo de Residuos: a map created by Santiago Guerra that includes private companies and community efforts to manage waste in Puerto Rico. As a recommendation, contact each location before bringing materials to learn about its processes, costs and requirements.
♻️ Guía de Reducción de Residuos en Puerto Rico: an educational guide produced by the nonprofit organization LimPiaR, with information on reduction, recycling and responsible disposal of waste. If you have no prior knowledge, or want to learn a lot in a short time, we recommend starting here. Bonus: it is available in Spanish and English.
♻️ Centros de Acopios por Materiales: a document that organizes all collection centers by material, produced by the Basura Cero initiative. It is very useful if you have already separated a material and are not sure where to recycle or responsibly dispose of it.
This content was translated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
