The Terceira Island has collected the largest quantity of paper/cardboard packaging waste and of glass at a national level per inhabitant in the first semester of 2009. This material is sent for recovery and recycling in Mainland Portugal, under the integrated system run by the Green Dot Society (Sociedade Ponto Verde).
According to the data presented by the aforementioned society, an average of 14 kilos of glass per inhabitant was collected on Terceira, being the national average of 8 kilos, whilst the average collection of paper/cardboard was of 13 kilos per inhabitant, being the national average of 5 kilos.
The selective collection of plastic and wood is much higher than the national average. A total of 1.737 tonnes of various types of packaging waste was collected, which means that each Terceira inhabitant has contributed with 31 kilos of waste for recycling, more than the double of the national average.
Furthermore, the selective collection of paper/cardboard packaging waste on the islands of São Miguel, Pico and Faial has also surpassed the national average.
In a note released today, the Regional Secretariat for the Sea and the Environment (SRAM) considers that these indicators demonstrate the environmental awareness of the Azoreans and the excellent work which has been developed by the Regional operators and by the entities that manage urban waste.
Therefore, recovering packaging waste and creating new products from it was made possible due to the of the citizens and companies’ adherence in the selective collection systems. The SRAM expressed its satisfaction with the results achieved, considering them a stimulus for the Azorean companies and entities, so people may take advantage of the potentialities of recycling on other islands, as well as of other materials with recycling potentialities.