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Environment

Roughly thirty take part in clinic on ditching single-use plastics

foto 2020 taller plasti-fri1The Formentera Department of Environment reports that nearly thirty people turned out today for a workshop aimed at helping Formentera hotels, restaurants and cafés eliminate single-use plastics. Held in the hall of ceremonies of local government, the event was sponsored by the Consell de Formentera, Ibiza and Formentera Marine Forum and Plastic Free.

Environment chief Antonio J Sanz opened the event by applauding both of the Consell’s co-sponsors for their ecological commitment. “This is an incredibly important day”, he said, before launching into an enumeration of the day’s talking points, like application of new Balearic legislation on waste and alternatives to single-use plastics.

Ibiza Preservation Fund’s Sandra Benbeniste said Formentera’s own environmental advocacy was worthy of praise as well, insisting “the goal here is to keep the process moving forward; progress like Formentera’s is ideal”. Benbeniste insisted that the island’s size and particular configuration made it “a shoo-in as a leader in sustainability”.

A range of alternatives to disposable plastics were spotlighted over the course of the day, as well as examples of companies that have opted to say no to such single-use products. Spokespeople from Can Vent and Gecko Hotel gave presentations of efforts at both establishments to nix single-use plastics.

The decision to stage today’s workshop on Formentera and another one, 1 April, on Eivissa can be traced back to the Ibiza and Formentera Marine Forum, a group that insists the Balearic legislation on waste involves far from simple requirements affecting individuals and, even more, businesses. The present moment offers a unique occasion to foment new habits in consumption, they say, as well as the chance to appreciate the Pine Islands’ natural surroundings and shape a future for them that is sustainable.

10 March 2020
Department of Communications
Consell de Formentera

Workshop offers help to members of hotel and catering industry keen to phase out single-use plastics

cartell iii2020 taller plasticThe Formentera Department of Environment reports it has joined forces with the Ibiza and Formentera Marine Forum and the group Plastic Free to host a how-to on decommissioning single-use plastics. Set to take place from 9.30am to 2.00pm on Wednesday 11 March in the local government’s hall of ceremonies, the free day-long clinic is directed at members of the island’s hotel and catering industry.

Environment councillor Antonio J Sanz said the workshop would cover new regional legislation on waste, how it applies to Formentera and how it stands to impact local businesses. “So much of the rubbish that’s generated today can be traced back to the hotel and catering sector, so if we want to move the needle downward in terms of the plastics we’re generating, their involvement is crucial”, he pointed out, underscoring the industry’s role in a steadily improving system of organics pickup on the island.

Staff specialist Javi Asensio will be on hand at the workshop offering a review of Formentera’s current waste management situation, and Bsplash’s Flor dell’Agnolo will talk about the Balearic waste bill.

Organisers will propose alternatives to single-use plastics and point out examples of firms that have already made the decision to eliminate such products from their repertoire. Plastic Free says the evening is about creating a space for debate where we can find effective ways to wean Formentera off single-use plastics. Terms of certification will be discussed as well, not to mention the Plastic Free certification process. Additional discussion will concentrate on best practices.

Firms which are interested in taking part in the workshop can get the complete details by emailing plasticfreeformentera@gmail.com.

9 March 2020
Department of Communication
Consell de Formentera

Consell and Govern back integrated environmental authorisation for Es Ca Marí substation

The Formentera Department of Environment reports that members of the regional environment committee, or CBMA, voted yesterday in plenary to grant integrated environmental authorisation to the Es Ca Marí plant. Local environment chief Antonio J Sanz pointed out that the move, which was backed by Consell de Formentera, establishes corrective strategies —on waste treatment, for example, or measures tackling vibrations, noise and gas emissions— to “put the plant on the right side of technical and environmental issues so installation of the third cable can proceed”.

And, the area around the power plant must be equipped with four fixed measuring stations to take sound readings to ensure it stays within an appropriate range morning, afternoon and night.

The changes must be applied before the plant incorporates generators to supply the power required for the substation. Today’s approval puts the power plant on stable administrative footing as well.

Conseller Sanz applauded “the CBMA, the energy and climate change division of the Balearic government and our administration work in recent months” and presaged “a swift and much-anticipated end to the troubles of area residents”.


4 March 2020
Department of Communications
Consell de Formentera

With ‘Glass for Posidonia’, Ecovidrio hosts travelling exhibition’s stop-over on Formentera highlighting importance of recycling glass

ecovidrio7marc“Glass for Posidonia” (Vidre per Posidònia) aims to bring football club players on board with glass recycling, developing awareness about why it’s important for the environment and for the effort to stop climate change

Saturday 7 March, 9.00am to 5.00pm, Plaça de la Constitució, Sant Francesc.

Formentera, 7 March 2020 | Ecovidrio, the non-profit entity responsible for recycling discarded glass bottles, jars and other containers in bins all across Spain has teamed up with the island governments of Eivissa and Formentera and participating town councils on Vidrio por Posidònia. The initiative, whose name translates as “Glass for Posidonia”, engages with young people via street marketing in Ibiza Town, Sant Antoni de Portmany, Santa Eulària des Riu, Sant Joan de Labritja, Sant Josep de sa Talaia and Sant Francesc de Formentera.

Vidrio por Posidonia is for football club players, fans and islanders at large, highlighting the perks and ecological payoff of recycling.

Street marketing will incorporate:

- Joc de la Vidre / Giant Game of the Goose. A new twist on an old favourite; this time, the focus is on glass recycling.
- Ecovidrio display. An educator and six info panels explain how glass recycling happens in Spain and why it’s important to preserve posidonia meadows near the two islands.

All-day street marketing will happen in the following locations:

Monday 2 March at Plaça d’Espanya, Sant Joan de Labritja
9.00am-2.00pm & 3.00pm-6.00pm

Tuesday 3 March at Passeig de les Fonts, Sant Antoni de Portmany
9.00am-2.00pm & 3.00pm-6.00pm

Wednesday 4 March at Passeig de S’Alamera, Santa Eulària des Riu
9.00am-2.00pm & 3.00pm-6.00pm

Thursday 5 March at Plaça Església de Sant Jordi, Sant Josep de sa Talaia
9.00am-2.00pm & 3.00pm-6.00pm

Friday 6 March at Passeig Vara del Rei, Eivissa
9.00am-2.00pm & 3.00pm-6.00pm

Saturday 7 March at Plaça de la Constitució, Sant Francesc de Formentera
9.00am-5.00pm

How recycling glass helps the environment
One hundred per cent of the glass that goes into recycling bins is recycled. During the infinite cycle in which recycled glass is used to make new glass containers, none of the original properties of the material are transformed. And, recycling glass allows us to keep landfills smaller.

Glass recycling is a key part of the race to stop climate change. Enlisting crushed glass to make new glass containers means we extract fewer raw materials from the earth, preventing soil erosion and deforestation.

Plus, reconstitution generates minimal CO₂ emissions and saves energy.

About Ecovidrio
Ecovidrio is the not-for-profit entity that manages glass waste recycling in Spain. It started operations in 2018, one year after the adoption of legislation on packing and packing waste, becoming the managing body behind a recycling model that promises full and fully-accessible service to everyone in Spain. Eight thousand packing companies account for the material dropped off at collection points that make recycling possible.

Ecovidrio is different because of the quality of its bin-based recycling, because we invest in drop-off spots and bins, in projects to expand glass recycling in the catering industry, to mobilise through awareness building and to champion prevention and eco-designed packing.

Based on Ecovidrio’s 2018 estimates, Spain’s recycling rate has gone from 31.3% to 76.5% in the two decades since the year 2000.

Glass recycling is a critical part of sustainable development, transitioning toward an increasingly circular economy and tackling climate change. And glass recycling is key to successfully delivering on the 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals for Sustainable Cities & Communities (11), Responsable Production & Consumption (12) and Climate Action (13).

4 March 2020
Department of Communications
Consell de Formentera

Ground campaign to stamp out pine processionary concludes with removal of 4,641 nests

campanya-processiona--ria-20201The Formentera Department of Environment reports that the effort to control numbers of the pine processionary caterpillar on the island resulted in the removal of nearly five thousand of the pest’s nests. The February campaign, which came with a €4,436 price-tag, was carried out jointly by the regional department of healthy forests and the Balearic Nature Institute, or Ibanat. The ground treatment lasted 17 days and saw forest crews covering over 132 kilometres in areas like Es Ca Marí, Es Carnatge, Punta Prima, Es Cap, Cala en Baster, Ses Bardetes, Camí vell de la Mola, Sant Ferran and Migjorn. The nests were incinerated at the treatment plant.

3 March 2020
Department of Communications
Consell de Formentera

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