There was a time when Sayulita was a secret that a fortunate group of tourists, transplants and locals guarded but also shared. Others shared with those they loved and so forth to create our current day Sayulita. Our Little Gem, remains such even through all of the growing pains that we have inflicted upon this once sleepy little fishing village.
Today, the environmental problems facing Sayulita and the world are enormous. Earth’s resources are being stretched to the limit by rapid population growth, air, water and soil pollution. Global warming threatens to push our planet beyond its ability to sustain human life unless we can meet the growing need for food, energy and economic opportunity within a sustainable approach to economy and environment.
How do we care for the issues of growth that we inflict through our own desires to dwell in a place that we consensually call paradise? It has never been more important, nor more urgent for us to take personal action, adopting greener lifestyles and working together to share our concerns and to protect the environmental future of Sayulita.

Sayulita draws and is home to many creative, care-full, inspired and committed environmental stewards. Tracie Willis, along with Mariano Ricci, David Geist, Connie LaCroix, Jorge Grosso and others have volunteered countless hours of their time and resources to help create Sayulita Recicla.

Now, Sayulita Recicla, together with PEACE of Punta de Mita, San Pancho Recicla (Alianza Jaguar and EntreAmigos), Bucerias Recyclers/Amigos de Bucerias, and ad hoc groups from Lo de Marcos and Litibu, has secured funding from the Punta de Mita Foundation to create Riviera Recicla.

Riviera Recicla’s uniqueness lies in its close coordination with the municipality and the surrounding communities. The combination of the communities’ efforts and resources will make recycling available to a large segment of the coast of Nayarit. Recycling education at both the scholastic and broader community levels will encourage community involvement and ensure the program’s sustainability. Energy savings will be observed at the production, shipping, and at waste removal levels. As the project gains momentum, it will provide a sustainable source of income through simple resale, supporting its continuation and expansion. Separated types of recyclables will be made into products for reuse and resale, providing local employment and funds. Riviera Recicla plans to create a viable industry around the handling of our wastes helping to make the project sustainable besides beautifying the region. The populace will also become aware of other environmental issues facing our world today as the seed of recycling grows into the tree of connected approaches to our problems.

Our community sends a grand applause and a heartfelt Thank you to Tracie, David, Mariano, Connie, Jorge and the entire team of Riviera Recycla. Your boundless energy, enthusiasm and gifts of time and intention are appreciated and inspiring.

We can all do our part to reduce waste by choosing reusable products instead of disposables. Buying products with minimal packaging (including the economy size when that makes sense for us) will help to reduce waste. And whenever you can, recycle. If there isn't a recycling container at your workplace, or in your area ask about getting one. By recycling half of your household waste, we can each save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide annually.

-June Hart

For more information:
http://prosayulita.org.94.seekdotnet.com/b2evolution/blogs/index.php?blog=7 or http://reciclaparque.wordpress.com/recycling-in-san-pancho/