SANTO DOMINGO.- The Puntacana Foundation and Parley Dominicana launched the “Puntacana Circular” project, a US$2.5 million initiative aimed at improving solid waste management in the Punta Cana-Verón area through a circular economy model that integrates infrastructure, innovation and collaboration between public and private sectors.
The project, according to Grupo Punta Cana, will be executed over three years, and is financed by the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF) through the Advancing Circular Economy Facility (ACE), as well as with the support of the German Government through GIZ and KfW.
The initiative arises in a context of high pressure on waste management systems, driven by the growth of tourism in the area. Punta Cana receives more than five million visitors annually, representing over 60% of the tourist flow entering the Dominican Republic. Nationally, more than 13,500 tons of solid waste are generated daily, while less than 3% is incorporated into circular economy processes.
According to the organizers, one of the main problems is that much of the waste arrives mixed together at the final disposal systems, which reduces the possibilities for recycling and reuse.
“When waste is mixed at the source, much of its recoverable value is lost. This project seeks to strengthen source separation, improve processing infrastructure, and develop solutions for materials that currently have no outlet,” explained Jake Kheel, vice president of the Puntacana Foundation.
A model based on three lines of action
“Puntacana Circular” is structured in three main components:
1. Source separation and selective collection:
This includes the installation of collection points at hotels, residential areas, educational centers, Punta Cana Airport, and BlueMall Punta Cana. It also includes three collection centers and the distribution of separate containers, along with training for tourism sector personnel in waste management.
2. Strengthening the Eastern Valorization Center (CENVAREE)
The project seeks to expand the processing capacity of this center through new technologies that allow for increased recovery of recyclable materials and improved system efficiency.
3. Solutions for non-recyclable waste.
Technological alternatives such as waste-derived fuel (RDF), recycled plastic blocks, and pyrolysis or gasification processes will be evaluated. These solutions will be developed through a “Sustainable Solutions Accelerator” with the goal of implementing scalable pilot projects.
Project goals
According to Grupo Punta Cana, upon completion of the project, it is expected to recover approximately 2,000 tons of recyclable materials, prevent the generation of 125 tons of waste, mobilize some 3,000 people in cleaning days, and consolidate a replicable model in other tourist destinations in the Caribbean.
Regional context
The organizations point out that the project responds to the need to modernize waste management in a key tourist area, where environmental pressure is constantly increasing due to economic and population growth.
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