The strategy encompasses the establishment of a technical office to assist municipalities in formulating waste management plans.
SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 17 December (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Department of Ecological Transition and Energy within the Government of the Canary Islands unveiled the Circular Economy Action Plan 2024-2026 on Tuesday. This initiative aims to expedite the evolution of the economic framework of the islands into a more sustainable and efficient system, underpinned by resource reuse, innovation, responsible waste management, and the encouragement of local employment.
The councillor, Mariano Hernández Zapata, emphasised during the launch event the extensive involvement of key sectors in drafting the document, notably councils, municipalities, and private enterprises.
In this regard, he wished to highlight that the level of participation has improved significantly compared to the previous 2021-2023 Plan, which demonstrated a low execution rate, resulting in a near three-year setback concerning the circular economy.
Zapata asserted that this plan serves as not only an environmental solution but also as an economic and social prospect for the Canary Islands, fostering high-quality local employment and bolstering the economy, which has been a primary focus since the start of the year.
Among the principal initiatives, he identified the establishment of a technical office dedicated to advising municipalities on developing waste prevention strategies, alongside the promotion of tax incentives to boost the use of locally produced compost.
He further clarified that the decision not to initiate the procedures for enacting a Circular Economy Law “is not a unilateral decision by this Government,” but rather “a result of situational diagnostics and analyses conducted by experts in the field, in collaboration with universities,” which clearly indicated the necessity to “create a practical plan and update the current Canary Islands Waste Law from 1999.”
In line with this, he pointed out that “the Government is dedicated to concluding the insular waste master plans, focusing first on implementing separate organic waste collection across all municipalities and fostering private investment in the recycling sector.”
Zapata also affirmed that, within the confined boundaries of the Canary Islands, where resources and space are exceedingly scarce and precious, it is essential to “cease indiscriminately landfill waste as though our islands are limitless,” underlining that this document “will guide us” in converting waste into opportunities.
The new Circular Economy Plan aspires to establish the Canary Islands as a leader in sustainability, ensuring that present decisions pave the way for a new legacy for forthcoming generations.
ACHIEVING EU SUSTAINABILITY OBJECTIVES
This strategy is aimed at fulfilling the sustainability targets set by the European Union while simultaneously reinforcing the economic and social structure of the archipelago.
The plan is integrated within the Canary Islands Circular Economy Strategy 2021-2030 and acts as a dynamic document, subject to evaluation and ongoing enhancement, with active involvement from both the productive and administrative sectors of the Canary Islands. This includes tools outlined in the Strategy, such as the establishment of an Observatory wherein experts, institutions, and civil society can engage in discussions, propose best practices, and assess the progress of implemented initiatives.
This plan, comprising twenty points, centres on four essential pillars that primarily focus on minimising waste, encouraging material reuse, and promoting recycling.
Furthermore, it aims to enhance waste management and the overall water cycle, improving the separate collection of organic matter and advancing projects like optimising waste transportation between islands.
Moreover, it seeks to maximise the utilisation of available materials while fostering research, innovation, and training in the circular economy, including a postgraduate degree in partnership with Canarian universities (R+D+I).
