The Cabildo de Tenerife has unveiled its educational initiative on Sustainability and the promotion of the Circular Economy of Tenerife, an ambitious undertaking comprising more than a hundred actions aimed at fostering sustainable practices among citizens and minimising domestic waste generation on the island. This initiative is founded on a clear premise: Achieving a sustainable island model necessitates a significant transformation in societal values, habits, and attitudes.
This Global awareness initiative commences in the First Classroom-Itinerant Slab, a mobile version of the educational classroom from the Tenerife Environmental Complex that is set to travel over 350 km around the island’s perimeter and aims to reach approximately 5,000 schoolchildren throughout the year, delivering education and environmental awareness to all municipalities within the island.
The S-Lab Launches in the Lagoon
One of the key tools of the Sustainability and Promotion Education Programme for the Circular Economy is the mobile classroom Slab, which will tour the island of Tenerife to engage educational centres, as well as groups, families, and the wider public, by providing workshops and interactive sessions.
From May 12 to 15, the Slab will be stationed at the La Cuesta Tram Plaza during morning and afternoon sessions, offering a series of educational and awareness-raising activities designed to encourage reflection and learning about our consumption patterns and the sustainability challenges we are facing, alongside waste management. Following this period, this innovative mobile space will continue its journey through various municipalities of the island, extending environmental education to every corner of Tenerife and encouraging a more informed, critical, and environmentally committed citizenry.
The Cabildo de Tenerife will enhance recycling efforts among 5,000 schoolchildren through the S-Lab mobile classroom / The Day
Open Doors at the Tenerife Environmental Complex
Additionally, as a part of awareness initiatives, the Tenerife Environmental Complex will host an Open Doors event on May 16 and 17. The session on May 16 will primarily target Environmental Education Teachers with a series of lectures, workshops, and panel discussions focused on recycling and its integration into education. The programme will include a guided tour of the complex, as well as a networking opportunity for participants to share experiences. On May 17, coinciding with World Recycling Day, the focus will shift to professional educators and researchers, with presentations on various research projects, advancements in recycling technologies, and new opportunities within the recycling sector.
“Transforming the Relationship of Tenerife’s Population with the Environment”
The event was attended by the President of the Cabildo, Rosa Dávila; the Minister of Natural Environment, Sustainability and Security and Emergencies, Blanca Pérez; the Insular Chief of Waste, Alejandro Molowny; and the Councillor for Municipal Services and Citizen Participation of La Laguna, Fran Hernández.
Rosa Dávila expressed that “We are particularly pleased to present this mobile recycling classroom in La Laguna. It is recycling week, and Saturday will mark World Recycling Day. We aim for more than just allowing visits to the Tenerife Environmental Complex; we want everyone to comprehend how waste management operates and the significance of recycling. Our goal is to raise awareness within the population through environmental education from a young age. That is why the mobile classroom will travel throughout Tenerife, informing both youth and professionals about our work at the Cabildo.”
Dávila further explained that implementing the Sustainability and Promotion Education Programme for the circular economy of Tenerife is intended to transform the relationship of the island’s populace with the environment by integrating education with everyday actions taken by citizens. She highlighted the council’s commitment to doubled clean points—from the current 8 to 16—facilitating recycling and fostering a more sustainable island.
The Cabildo de Tenerife will enhance recycling efforts among 5,000 schoolchildren through the S-Lab mobile classroom / The Day
A More Sustainable Tenerife
In addition, Blanca Pérez indicated that “We must increase public awareness that reducing waste and improving recycling is a collective responsibility, and we all need to engage in achieving that qualitative and quantitative change that will make the island of Tenerife more sustainable.”
Alejandro Molowny remarked that the Sustainability and Promotion Education Programme for the circular economy “was conceived to address environmental challenges arising from waste generation and management, implementing measures aimed at fostering a culture of environmental responsibility among the population. This educational project comprises a hundred initiatives focused on minimising waste and promoting awareness, as we understand that the best waste is the waste that does not exist.”
Fran Hernández expressed gratitude that the Cabildo chose La Laguna as the programme’s starting point, stating, “Collaboration in such initiatives is crucial for success. The City Council has been conducting various informative and awareness projects in local schools, as we believe it is vital for the younger generation to adopt appropriate habits. Additionally, we ensure that all citizens have access to the necessary resources for effective recycling. From La Laguna, we are committed to fostering a more sustainable municipality, a more sustainable island, and a more sustainable archipelago.”
Changing Habits, Raising Awareness
The Sustainability and Promotion Education Programme of Tenerife’s circular economy is designed to enhance environmental culture from a participatory, critical, and transformative viewpoint, operating in both formal and informal contexts, while involving social groups, the educational community, the business sector, technical staff, and the general public.
To achieve this, they have created one hundred actions that encompass communication campaigns, school workshops, commemorative events, visits to the Tenerife Environmental Complex, educational materials, interventions in neighbourhood associations, community events, consultations with local entities, and specialised training, among other activities.
These initiatives are tailored to cater to the characteristics of each audience and region, employing innovative methodologies and meaningful experiences. Thus, the programme reinforces the Cabildo’s commitment to a waste management model prioritising reduction, reuse, and recycling, aligning with the principles of the circular economy while advocating for a decisive shift in consumption and waste management practices.
