News

Organics pick-up is back—Formentera reactivates collection service for island's biggest waste producers

Tuesday, 14 May 2019 15:17

foto-porta-a-porta-mate--ria-o1 The environment office of the Formentera Council reports organic waste collection will resume this year on May 15 and be provided through mid-October. In a continuation of last year's setup, pick-up service will be operated on two routes servicing medium- and large-sized waste generators on the island.

All told, 170 businesses are handing over their bagged organic scraps as part of the door-to-door pick-up scheme. Businesses who have questions about the programme can put questions to two of the environment office's informadors (“informers”) or three other dedicated agents.

Following the success of last year's ministration, in 2019 the Council is also offering door-to-door plastics pick-up at businesses located inside ses Salines nature reserve.

The non-profit recycling promotors Ecoembes have put together funding to hire an additional environmental informer to help boost recycling on the island.

A look back at 2018
During five months of service in 2018, 527.4 tonnes of organic waste was collected from 170 participating establishments. The success of the effort in 2018 was key to contracting an additional informer and distributing yellow collection bins at business to encourage increased recycling.

The administration's environment councillor hailed businesses' collaboration in the initiative and said she hoped the positive reaction would hold strong, “because the benefits aren't just environmental, they're economic, too”.

May 14, 2019
Àrea de Comunicació
Formentera Council

Formentera forces of order up their game on public safety

Monday, 13 May 2019 15:10

curs-tedax-formentera1 The TEDAX unit of the Civil Guard facilitated a training course for the emergency response workers of the island this morning. The session took place at Formentera Local Police station and saw the attendance of officers and members of island law enforcement, Civil Protection, local Civil Guard, Formentera firefighters as well as lifeguard and rescue services and other individuals.

The TEDAX special officers gave participants an overview of response strategies in situations where public safety might be at risk or rescue missions involving micro-explosions to reach hard to access sites. The TEDAX unit of the Civil Guard are specialists in defusing explosive devices.

Participants of the training session also reviewed common interventions on Eivissa and Formentera in recent years, discussing past Civil Guard finds like explosives or navigational flares dragged by currents and washed up on the shoreline.

The day was also attended by CiF president's office chief Bartomeu Escandell, who praised such efforts as key to local emergency response training, and saluted the collaboration of law enforcement forces in “making Formentera a safer place”.

May 13, 2019
Àrea de Comunicació
Formentera Council

80 new blue zone parking spaces added in la Savina

Sunday, 12 May 2019 17:41

The Formentera Council's mobility office reports that the new blue zone parking on the western side of la Savina port—currently the site of parking for rental cars—will be incorporated into the island's metred or “regulated” parking scheme from tomorrow, Monday May 13.

The system will be unveiled—and will function just like in other parts of la Savina and other towns of the island—as soon as the Council obtains the go-ahead from the Balearic port authority to manage parking in the area.

The move will add 80 extra zona blava parking spaces in la Savina. An overflow parking lot has also been opened opposite plaça Illes Pitiüses.

May 12, 2019
Àrea de Comunicació
Formentera Council

Formentera regulates access at es Cap lighthouse May 15-October 15

Monday, 13 May 2019 14:57

cartel faro 2019-1- The Formentera Council's mobility department announces the reactivation, Wednesday May 15, of a scheme to limit motorcycle, car and moped access to es Cap de Barbaria lighthouse in 2019. The scheme will be enforced until October 15 in a bid to keep crowds at the monument to a minimum and preserve “Sa Tanca d'allà dins” as a tranquil, natural setting.

Tracing current plans to revive the apparatus to the success of last year's effort, secretary Rafael González said the setup was aimed at keeping crowds at the monument to a minimum and preserving a tranquil, natural setting.

Restricted access to the monument has been in effect the last two years, relying on a road block at kilometre marker 6.5 of the es Cap de Barbaria road. The setup was implemented on a pilot run from July 1 to September 15 in 2017 and June 25 to September 30 last year.

This year the period of regulation will be extended across the entire season to make sure visits to es Cap's far, or lighthouse, and the es Garroveret defense tower are pleasurable—and easy—for tourists and islanders alike.

With parking for 60 cars and 100 motor scooters is available on an adjacent plot, motorists can get out and walk or cycle the remainder of the path to the lighthouse.

Access for people with reduced mobility
During peak visiting hours, 11.00am to 1.00pm and 6.00pm to 10.00pm, an attendant beside the barrier will allow access to people with reduced mobility and provide visitors with information about the new measures.

The Formentera Council has put together a pamphlet that will be distributed at rental car agencies, tourist information offices and the es Cap entry and control point. Posters have also been published and will be posted at various points around the island, including Council bulletin boards.

May 13, 2019
Àrea de Comunicació
Formentera Council

Formentera rolls out pest control measures

Friday, 10 May 2019 15:30

control-de-moscards-1 The Formentera Council's department of environment is unveiling its newest drive to keep numbers of mosquitos and lake flies under control in the ses Salines nature preserve. Operations are planned at a handful of fresh water points, generally preferred sites among pests depositing their larvae, at s'Estany Pudent, s'Estany des Peix and ses Salines d'en Marroig.

Crews stepped up fumigations during the initiative's first weeks in light of heavy rainfall at the start of the year which could potentially play a part in ballooning mosquito numbers. Three day-long efforts are scheduled for next week. Later in the season the operation will be repeated once a week, though the frequency can be increased and the application area expanded if operators determine it to be necessary.

Treatment plan
Crews are using the maximum dosage allowed by law as they spray a bio agent called Bacillus thuringiensis Israeliensis across parts of ses Salines. The idea is to achieve maximum ambient levels of the substance, a natural insecticide that works by acting directly on larvae growing in stagnant water.

Two operators oversee control measures, which involve special rucksacks that are filled with the insecticide and fitted with dusting equipment. Spraying the product in its pulverised state is seen as a more effective form of application. The effort is scheduled to continue through October.

Though the price tag initially placed on 2019 operations, €32,208, officials have already said they are prepared to increase this figure should inconvenciences associated with the mosquitos and lake flies persist.

May 10, 2019
Àrea de Comunicació
Formentera Council