The Rising Economic Cost of Plastic Pollution on Costa Rica’s "Green" Economy

Plastic pollution threatens 8% of Costa Rica's GDP, with fisheries facing up to $126M in losses. Explore the financial impact on tourism and clean energy in 2026.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 16, 2026, 11:18 AM EDT

Source: The Tico Times

The Erosion of the Tourism Brand

Costa Rica’s global identity is built on the promise of "Pura Vida," defined by pristine biodiversity and clean coastlines. However, mounting plastic debris in waterways and on beaches is beginning to undermine this image. With tourism serving as a backbone for the national economy and hundreds of thousands of jobs, even a slight decline in visitor satisfaction due to visible pollution poses a systemic risk. Economists warn that once a destination's reputation for natural integrity is damaged, recovery is both slow and prohibitively expensive.

Fishery Sector Faces Multimillion-Dollar Losses

The financial pressure on coastal communities is becoming increasingly measurable. Projections for the coming decades suggest that marine plastic contamination could cost the Costa Rican fishing industry between $12 million and $126 million. These costs manifest through entangled gear, reduced catch yields, and the biological impact of microplastics on fish populations. For small-scale artisanal fishers operating on thin margins, the time spent removing plastic from nets rather than harvesting fish represents an immediate and personal drain on household income.

Hidden Threats to Renewable Energy Infrastructure

An overlooked victim of plastic waste is the country’s clean energy grid. As a nation powered almost entirely by renewable sources, Costa Rica relies heavily on hydropower. Plastic debris entering river systems accumulates in hydroelectric reservoirs, where it can obstruct turbines and reduce operational efficiency. The recurring cost of removing floating waste from these systems is a direct, yet often silent, burden on the national utility infrastructure, complicating the country’s ambitious 2050 net-zero goals.