Does the DR recycle like in North America ?

@Ian1272 Not anywhere that I have seen. It is my belief that there is great potential for such a business - with the right backing from private & perhaps even government - here. It would create jobs in several sectors and might help "clean up" much of the discarded recyclable waste. Alberta, known for it's effective recycle program, along with other provinces have a wealth of knowledge in this area....

@planner Yes, lots of ideas and uses out there - just have to find an economically feasible one. Used tires reduced to crumbs, heated and mixed with tar/ashphalt makes for some pretty durable roads, sidewalks and driveways as well.

There was a discussion to ban one use plastic bags in the DR.  Didn't happen.

I see nothing in the DR to motivate recycling as described in the OP.

Our paid garbage service does not have the capacity to carry items for recycling.

Recycling is not even a low priority in the DR and as others point out it would be a money losing endeavor if attempted.  Recycling like in Canada is something very unlikely to happen in the DR.

Maybe they should  give out free reusable bags for one month and have the government pay for them and then charge. .10 pesos for a plastic bag…. Some people are walking out with 10 bags….. does the government think in beautification of the country is a losing proposition where maybe more tourists would

Venture into the town’s and spread some of the there money around instead of just sitting by the pool and saying “I went to the DR “  a lot of people only see the the DR from a taxi on the way from and to the airport and it doesn’t look to good in places

10 bags would be a very small number when we go food shopping. We pay for our own garbage pickup to a man with a truck that takes everything to the dump. There is no thought of recycling.

The vast majority of tourists stay at AI resorts. They come from the USA where they get maybe 2 weeks of vacation a year, or Canada or the EU where they might get a full month of time. But most still stay for the most part in those resorts because they already paid for all of the food and drink. There is little incentive for that vast majority of tourists to go into town other than to take planned excursions organized by the resorts.

The same situation holds true with the Cruise ship industries millions of tourists where every peso is squeezed from the cruisers and every excursion is tightly controlled.

The money from them is in the form of "revenue" to the government on the fees that pay to go in and out of the DR and the taxes the hotels and cruise companies pay (soon to be extended to AIRBNB). If the DR government wants to start recycling , ban plastic bags, etc then they will have to come up with those rules and regulations. I see nothing about that at all from the government.

10 bags??

There was probably less them 20 items in the cart!

I'm still shocked after 10 years living here how less 1/500 uses reusable bag doing there groceries.

Lost case unfortunately, maybe in 20-30 years with better education and future severe laws under a new government.

In many ways those plastic bags are recycled:

Hair protection from the rain.

Inside every small garbage can in the house.

Packing anything to go anywhere - clothes to sleep over, loaning anything to anyone.

I have seen them used to cover plates of food in the fridge.

Used to cover your hair after it's colored!

Every plastic margarine container - becomes a sugar bowl or leftover storage dish. Etc etc

Things are often and constantly reused here!  Unfortunately there is still way too much ending up in the landfill.

This, again, is a product of education. Educating the younger generations will ensure changes are made! It just takes time.

Good one Planner...lol  but that is "re-use" not recycle.  But a good and accurate read none the less.  I might just add one or two, plastic over the rice when it's cooking, you know to make con con...lol and don't forget...rain booties!

Yessss. I took liberties!

Reduce - buy reusable as often as possible

Re use - we are awesome here at that!

Recycle - seriously lacking here!

And how about:

RE EDUCATE!   Start teaching new ways now. Lead by example!

@Ian1272

No

I think this makes an excellent start. Everyone should post any new ways that they re-use things and maybe we can do our little part by sharing these ideas.

Bottles can be used for many things. Cut a hole in the side and you can use them to store items. Under the sink, in the workshop and the handles become an easy way to hang them up out of the way. They make great pots for starting plants and a row of them makes an herb garden!

Cut off the top of a bleach bottle and you have a funnel. The bottom becomes a container.

I have seen people use left over plastics for artwork...

Planner… some great ideas…… and I promise I’ll never call you a

bag lady….or an old Bag

Good thing cause I would have to find you and tear you limb from limb!!! 🤭🤭🤭

Here in Punta Cana, I have only seen a few recycle options and all of it is, do it yourself, bring it to a place, leave it there.  For example, at the jumbo grocery store in downtown PC, underground parking, they have recycle container in front of the door.  Its for plastic and glass bottles only.  there are holes on the top and at the sides, so you can put the glass bottles in the side, so they dont drop and break.