Costa Rica is one of the top countries in the world for global environmental sustainability consistently ranking in the top 20 (World Energy Council). Their initiatives are remarkable knowing that they are a relatively small Latin American country. A couple that enticed me when researching was the amount of waste that they recycle and their use of renewable energy.

Their emphasis on recycling and how the country encourages it is something that other countries could try and replicate. They recycle about 60% of all of its waste. One of their major programs leading to this is their “pay as you throw” program. The program consists of payments for the weight of their trash rather than a set rate for trash service. The more that a resident recycles, the lower the charges. This is a win-win initiative for the sustainability of the country as well as for the financial aspects for the residents. Concerning the agricultural sector, this has a big impact on coffee. There is a ton of waste that goes from coffee during processing, like pulp. Recycling this waste will reduce the negative impact on the environment.

Another outstanding practice is their use of renewable energy. In 2015, Costa Rica was recognized for generating 100% of its electricity from renewable resources. Now, they are consistently at an incredible 99% with over 80% coming from electric dams and power plants. In comparison, the United States is only at about 20%. A goal for a lot of countries is to get this to 60%, Costa Rica shatters their goals. A big reason why they are doing this is to try combating climate change using green energy.

I am excited to tour a country that I have never been to. But what I am most excited about is the opportunity to stay with a family while on the trip. It will be a unique experience and it will be pretty cool to live the experience of the culture daily.