Punta Allen is a small fishing village inside the UNESCO Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, located one hour away from Pez Maya, where GVI has a reef research expedition. The grass roots initiative Punta Allen Verde aims to assist this community to start a recycling program. Community members wish to create build a recycling centre, where the recyclable waste can be temporarily stored once separated. The aim of the program is to encourage all community members to participate so the community and village of Punta Allen, situated within the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, becomes an example to the rest of the region.

The project has stages of development. Initially the community needs to purchase containers and place them around the village in key locations. Separation and recycling workshops will also be organized for the whole community, specifically in schools and with local women cooperatives. The community of village are very keen to implement this programme in town and to build a recycling centre where they can keep the rubbish while waiting for it to be collected. The items collected and stored, plastic, metal, glass, will be sold to generate income for the program, which be used to maintain the recycling centre and the program.

The programme will start with several workshops in town and then the placing of different containers around town and in the school. The reason for the program and separation techniques will be explained. The workshop program will initially focus upon the children of the village, and then move onto the women’s groups and the local co-operatives, with the aim of the entire community eventually committed to participating.

All the plastic, metal and glass collected will be sold thus gaining revenue to fund and maintain the recycling centre.

So what can we get with your donation?

10 GBP funds 100 biodegradable bags for the program.

25 GBP funds two big rubbish containers.

100 GBP funds one local builder for a week to help construct the recycling centre. 

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