Version 1
: Received: 3 August 2024 / Approved: 3 August 2024 / Online: 6 August 2024 (04:16:57 CEST)
Version 2
: Received: 13 August 2024 / Approved: 14 August 2024 / Online: 14 August 2024 (15:51:28 CEST)
Version 3
: Received: 16 August 2024 / Approved: 18 August 2024 / Online: 20 August 2024 (05:10:16 CEST)
Version 4
: Received: 20 August 2024 / Approved: 20 August 2024 / Online: 21 August 2024 (04:35:54 CEST)
Version 5
: Received: 21 August 2024 / Approved: 22 August 2024 / Online: 23 August 2024 (03:59:30 CEST)
How to cite:
NAVARRO JIMÉNEZ, A. Overcoming Waste Management Challenges in Costa Rica: Evaluating Practices, Government Initiatives, and Future Strategies. Preprints2024, 2024080274. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202408.0274.v5
NAVARRO JIMÉNEZ, A. Overcoming Waste Management Challenges in Costa Rica: Evaluating Practices, Government Initiatives, and Future Strategies. Preprints 2024, 2024080274. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202408.0274.v5
NAVARRO JIMÉNEZ, A. Overcoming Waste Management Challenges in Costa Rica: Evaluating Practices, Government Initiatives, and Future Strategies. Preprints2024, 2024080274. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202408.0274.v5
APA Style
NAVARRO JIMÉNEZ, A. (2024). Overcoming Waste Management Challenges in Costa Rica: Evaluating Practices, Government Initiatives, and Future Strategies. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202408.0274.v5
Chicago/Turabian Style
NAVARRO JIMÉNEZ, A. 2024 "Overcoming Waste Management Challenges in Costa Rica: Evaluating Practices, Government Initiatives, and Future Strategies" Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202408.0274.v5
Abstract
Costa Rica, renowned for its environmental sustainability, faces a pressing waste management crisis that threatens its ecological and public health achievements. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of Costa Rica's waste management challenges, focusing on urban areas like San José, where nearly half of the nation's waste is generated. Key issues include insufficient landfill capacity, a low recycling rate of 9.6%, and significant regional disparities in waste practices. Employing a hybrid modeling approach with Linear Regression and ARIMA models, the study forecasts CO2e emissions and waste minimization trends from 2024 to 2050, highlighting the critical role of public participation and innovative waste management strategies.The introduction of a Waste Management Innovation Index allows for a comparative analysis, positioning Costa Rica against global leaders like Germany and South Korea, and identifying areas where significant improvements are needed. The study also incorporates stakeholder perspectives to reveal the complex interplay of cultural, economic, and regulatory factors influencing waste management policies.Findings indicate that despite government initiatives like the Environmental Health Route and the National Circular Economy Strategy, success has been limited, particularly in rural areas. The study underscores the necessity of enhancing infrastructure, launching targeted public education campaigns, and adopting advanced technologies such as AI and blockchain to achieve sustainable waste management. Strategic recommendations are provided to help Costa Rica align its waste management practices with global standards.
Keywords
Waste Management; Recycling Rates; Environmental Sustainability; Costa Rica; Circular Economy Strategies; Public Participation in Recycling
Subject
Environmental and Earth Sciences, Environmental Science
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.