Tourists at the Recycling Yard

We take a break today from clearing the jungle and planting bushes for a day of sightseeing. First stop? The municipal recycling yard! Bet the folks on the tour boats don't see this. (Though we saw their recyclables - they say the tour boats send trash and recyclables ashore.) The city government is quite proud of its recycling efforts. They say 80% of the population recycles glass, cans, plastic, compost and cardboard. There's a visitor center, with a large sign listing sponsors, corporate and otherwise, and interpretive signs throughout this facility. It's much like the operations you'll see in Chapel Hill and other American cities, though smaller. We had a guide from the city offices - he spoke only Spanish, so Kiernan interpreted. (He's been invaluable in helping bridge the language barrier!) Tours seem mostly focused on promoting recycling to island residents.

Islanders also pay a dollar deposit for large bottles of Coke or other soft drinks - even plastic bottles, which are refilled and recapped.

This afternoon... off to Finch Bay for nature watching and snorkeling.