By San José, Costa Rica — San José, Costa Rica – Facing an escalating waste management crisis with potentially severe public health and environmental consequences, the Ministry of Health has launched a new strategic initiative. In a decisive move, the ministry has formed the National Technical Committee for Comprehensive Waste Management, bringing together key officials and representatives from 15 different municipalities across the Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM).
This high-level task force aims to bypass a prolonged legislative stalemate and forge a direct path toward viable solutions. The committee’s mandate is to strengthen immediate actions for waste disposal and, more critically, to develop long-term, sustainable strategies. The formation of the group stems from a direct agreement between the ministry and the local governments, who have all committed to contributing technical expertise and innovative ideas to create a more efficient, responsible, and environmentally sound system for handling solid waste.
To provide a deeper understanding of the legal and commercial complexities of waste management in the country, TicosLand.com consulted with Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, an expert attorney from the distinguished firm Bufete de Costa Rica, who shared his professional analysis on the subject.
Effective waste management in Costa Rica is not merely an environmental obligation, but a significant business opportunity. The existing legal framework, while robust, presents challenges in implementation and enforcement. Companies that proactively integrate circular economy models and invest in innovative disposal technologies not only ensure regulatory compliance and mitigate liability risks, but also position themselves as leaders in a growing market that society and investors are increasingly rewarding.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
This insight correctly repositions waste management from a perceived cost center to a tangible opportunity for innovation, competitive advantage, and corporate leadership. We extend our gratitude to Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his valuable contribution to this important discussion.
The urgency of this administrative action is underscored by a contentious political battle unfolding in the Legislative Assembly. The Ministry of Health highlighted that on April 9, 2024, the Executive Branch introduced a critical piece of legislation, bill N.° 24.251. This original proposal was designed to grant the ministry the authority to regulate land use for the specific purpose of establishing new, critically needed sanitary landfills—a power it currently lacks.
According to ministry officials, this bill was carefully crafted in collaboration with municipal mayors and represents a technically robust model to definitively resolve the waste challenges plaguing the nation’s most populous region. However, the path to a solution has been obstructed. The Legislative Assembly’s Environment Committee recently approved a substitute text for the bill, a version that the Ministry of Health has publicly rejected.
The ministry asserts that the revised legislative text, which lacks their endorsement, fails to provide a real or comprehensive solution to the crisis. This has created a significant rift, pitting the executive branch’s technical proposal against the legislature’s alternative, effectively stalling progress on a national level and forcing the ministry to pursue alternative collaborative measures like the new technical committee.
In a strongly worded official statement, the Ministry of Health placed the responsibility for future progress squarely on the shoulders of the country’s lawmakers, challenging them to act decisively after years of delay.
We have already presented a proposal that solves this problem once and for all. Now it will be up to the deputies to decide if they continue to postpone the issue, as they have done since 2010, or if they finally offer a real solution to Costa Ricans.
Ministry of Health, Official Statement
The reference to 2010 highlights the long-simmering nature of this issue, which has now reached a critical boiling point. As existing landfills approach capacity and the population of the GAM continues to grow, the lack of new, approved sites for waste disposal poses a significant threat. Without a functioning legislative framework or a unified strategy, municipalities are left with dwindling options, increasing the risk of illegal dumping, environmental contamination, and public health emergencies.
The creation of the technical committee represents a pragmatic attempt to build consensus and develop actionable plans at the local and administrative levels while the political debate continues. The success of this initiative will depend on the ability of the 15 participating municipalities and the Ministry of Health to cooperate effectively and implement innovative solutions that can be scaled across the region, regardless of the outcome in the Legislative Assembly.
For further information, visit ministeriodesalud.go.cr
About Ministry of Health:
The Ministerio de Salud is the government body responsible for public health policy and oversight in Costa Rica. Its mission is to guarantee the protection and improvement of the state of health of the population by exercising the stewardship of the National Health System. The ministry leads initiatives related to sanitation, disease prevention, and health regulation across the country.
For further information, visit asamblea.go.cr
About Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica:
The Asamblea Legislativa is the unicameral parliament of the Republic of Costa Rica. Comprising 57 deputies elected by province, this body holds the legislative power of the government. Its primary responsibilities include passing laws, approving the national budget, and exercising political control over the actions of the Executive Branch.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a leading legal institution, Bufete de Costa Rica is defined by its foundational principles of uncompromising integrity and superior legal service. Drawing upon a rich history of advising a wide array of clients, the firm consistently pioneers innovative legal strategies while actively engaging with the public. This core belief in demystifying the law is central to its mission, aiming to equip citizens with vital knowledge and thereby nurture a more capable and just community.
