Recycling
Chugchilán - the local village by the Black Sheep Inn
Chugchilán's Recycling Centre has been an initiative of the Black Sheep Inn's
since Andres (co-owner of the Black Sheep Inn) was elected to be King of Garbage
in Chugchilán in 2006. By working cooperatively with public officials
Andres helped purchase a small property to use as a separation facility,
tree nursery and mini landfill.
Trash used to be swept weekly in the canyon in front of the local school. Now
trash is separated into cardboard, hard plastic, soft plastic, paper, metal and
organic. Recyclables are sold and profits go directly to the people who sort
the waste. Organic waste has been composted and used to fertilize a public
central park in the village.
Local materials, local labor
The Recycling Center is built out of hand made adobe blocks and roofing material
salvaged from an old demolished market building. It was built using all local labor.
This project helps to maintain a clean and healthy village. Local people are
employed and have been trained to do every step of the work involved in recycling.
Tourists volunteer on designated clean up days in the village.
Daily Function
The Recycling Center receives organic and inorganic waste from the village of
Chugchilán. Over 50% of the waste is composted, 30% separated and
sold to local recyclers and approximately 20% goes into a small landfill.
There are 4 separating stations in the village of Chugchilán labeled with signs
and images describing how to classify the waste. The vehicle is highly
visible (and cute) when transporting waste and it can easily convey important
public messages of cleanliness and sanitation to local villagers.
Milestone -- Recycling Collection Vehicle
For WTM World Responsible Tourism Day 2007,
the Black Sheep Inn, along with guests and village members, decoratively painted
recycling messages on the new 3-wheeled diesel eco recycling vehicle.
The 'Tuk-Tuk' vehicle was donated by the local mayor to transport solid waste
to the Recycling Center built and established by the Black Sheep Inn.
This 'ECO' vehicle has a range of 100 km per gallon. We are investigating
the possibility of converting it to bio-diesel.
Before the generous donation of the vehicle to transport the waste, the
Black Sheep Inn had been volunteering the use of its pick-up truck.
Black Sheep Inn is now in charge of vehicle maintenance. The painting of
the 'Tuk-Tuk' vehicle is one small part in the project of community Environmental
Education; which will continue in the local schools, more recycling stations will
be established, there will be garbage pick-ups at local homes, and a tree nursery
will be established using fertilizer from the finished compost.
Milestone -- Tree planting with recycled fertilizer
For WTM World Responsible Tourism Day 2008
Black Sheep Inn started planting native trees using organic fertilizer produced
from composting village waste. The recycling site now has over 200 trees planted.
