“The idea of the expo is to bring the community together and show all the initiatives that are going on,” said event coordinator Jessica Sheffield. The goal is for people to not only know what’s going on but also to participate. 

Visitors will be treated to educational materials and understanding of the basics of recycling and rubbish separation. With booths and displays from the Recycling Centre, the Nosara Civic Association and dozens of artisans, vendors and other people involved in sustainable businesses, the event is sure to have something for just about everyone, according to coordinator Bobbi Johnson.
        
“There will be cultural and dance performances,” explained Johnson. “We’ve invited solar power providers and anyone else who has sustainable business models, even organic farmers.”

Expo visitors are also invited to join the parade to the Nosara plaza at 5 p.m. for the Festival of Lights celebration. When the expo organizers found out that the festival was to fall on the same day as the expo, they decided to unite the two efforts. 
         
The catchword used at the expo last year and hopefully in subsequent years is “minimal impact,” meaning that the organizers are aiming for zero untreatable trash during the event. Last year’s experience proves that it’s possible. About 300 people attended, and only one bag of landfill-destined trash was collected from the expo grounds, according to Johnson.
 
This year, no plastic bottles of water or pop are permitted for sale, only recyclable or biodegradable containers will be provided to patrons and plantain leaves will be used as dishes.  

Visitors will be participating through their use of biodegradable materials and are invited to participate in other activities as well “to help make the community more sustainable and a better place for us all to live,” as Sheffield put it.