Barra de Tortuguero is a town surrounded by rivers and canals, accessible only by water. With a population of 2500 people, tourism is its main source of employment, thanks to the nearby Tortuguero National Park.

This park, part of the Northwest Caribbean RAMSAR site, protects nesting sea turtles and diverse habitats. In 2022, it received more than 200,000 visitors, making it the fifth most visited park in the country.

Due to the high demand for services and difficult access, waste management is a challenge for the Municipality of Pococí, which is in charge of waste collection and disposal.

In 2006, in partnership with the municipality, the Asociación Planta Recicladora Barra del Tortuguero was created to provide organic waste collection, recycling, and composting services. The municipality provides resources and personnel, and the association is responsible for separating and selling recoverable waste.

Donations from Japan and Germany have modernized the process, allowing for the efficient transformation of organic and plastic waste.