Recycling on the up
THE AMOUNT of waste collected from yellow recycling containers (plastic packaging, tin cans, etc.) from January to July in the Valencia region has increased by 17% compared to the same period last year.
These figures are ‘conclusive’ evidence that regional government measures to improve selective collection of waste are working, according to the councillor for ecological transition, Mireia Mollà.
This increase is 1.2% greater than was registered for all of 2019 compared to 2018, she noted.
The aim is to ‘keep advancing’ with measures such as the new containers launched in places such as Alicante, Oropesa and inland Valencia, the recent decree to reinforce public management of separating and classifying waste packaging, and full implementation of separate collection of organic waste.
Meanwhile, the figures for mixed domestic waste produced during July could indicate a slight economic recovery, despite a fall of 7.18% from 211,468.66 tonnes to 196,232.28.
Some inland or coastal areas with a tradition of national tourism, like the Ribera-Valldigna or Plana Baixa-Alto Palancia, recorded the same as or even greater amounts than July 2019.
However, there was a drop of over 9% in the coastal areas of the Marina Alta, Marina Baja, El Campello, Vega Baja, central-north Castellón province and metropolitan Valencia.
Sra Mollà called for production of waste to be reduced drastically so that it is no longer an indicator of economic activity.