TULUM, July 2007~

Grand opening of the first recycling center in Tulum

The first recycling center for plastics recently opened in Tulum with a fun and educational inauguration party. The community of Tulum was invited to the party to enjoy some food, music and a welcome drink, as well as taking part by bringing a plastic bottle to deposit in the center. The inauguration was a great success with approximately one hundred people attending the event and getting to know the new recycling center and its process, which will aid Tulum to grow in a more sustainable manner. The people of Tulum and nearby areas are invited to drop off all their plastic bottles at the recycling center.....

Global Vision International (GVI), in collaboration with its local partners Amigos de Sian Ka'an and the Casa de la Cultura Tulum, joined forces with the Office of Social Development and the Mayor of Tulum to build the recycling center. More than twenty local businesses supported the project with donations to buy the materials for the construction, with GVI Tulum's Expedition Members completing the construction of the collection center and its surrounding gardens.

Giovanni Avashadur, Director of the Casa de la Cultura Tulum, representing the Mayor of Tulum, Lic. Jorge Córdoba Pech stated that "...the construction of this recycling center represents a milestone for the city of Tulum. The work of GVI and its partners have been fundamental in increasing the environmental awareness of Tulum, and I hope that it will contribute to create a more sustainable and green city, a model for the rest of the state, and why not the rest of the country."

The inauguration was presided over by C. German Gallegos Cruz, representative of the Governor of Quintana Roo in Tulum, Nicholas Faherty, GVI's Tulum Coordinator of environmental projects and Kat Tweddle, GVI Tulum's Expedition Manager. Biologist Cesar Barios, Director of Institutional Development of Amigos de Sian Ka'an and Biologist Daniel Ponce Taylor, Director of Projects in Mexico were also present. The recycling center is located in the back of the Expo Fairgrounds in Tulum, an unused area that had become an informal garbage dump. It is now a communal area with gardens, as well as the recycling center. For parts of the construction, GVI reused glass bottles that were collected during two months of beach clean-up and trash pick ups from the side of the road. More that 2500 bottles were stacked and cemented together to create the walls of the center and the gardens walls.

GVI expedition members come from different countries to enjoy the natural, cultural and historical beauty of Tulum. During their stay, expedition members take part in English and environmental education classes at the Casa de la Cultura, local schools, taxi cooperative and local police department, among others. The recycling program began in December 2006, with workshops for the students of the Telesecundaria Junior High School, followed by the primary school students from Julio Ruelas Elementary School. During these workshops, students learned to recycle and make paper, make compost from organic waste, the importance of recycling to reduce the amount of waste, and to conserve our natural resources. The recycling collection center is now open and we hope to see you all, with all of your plastic recyclables, very soon!

Local area sponsors-

Don Cafeto •Mezzanine •Coldwell Banker •Creaciones Ambar •Esmeraldas y Diamante K •Iguana Bike Shop •Palapa del Chino •La Nave •Piedra Escondida •Zamas •Cesiak •Pizza Pazza •Viva Margherita Bar •Maya Tulum •Posada Margherita •La Zebra •Amansala •Tierra del Sol •Hotel Latino •Posada del Sol •Telcel •Todo Tulum •Hotel Don Diego de la Selva

For more information on GVI please visit; www.gvi.co.uk

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