The Regional Director for the Environment stated today that the Government of the Azores has an ongoing sustainability strategy based on a series of initiatives aimed at the reduction of waste production and reuse of waste, some of which are underway while others will be implemented shortly.
 
Hernâni Jorge spoke in Porto Formoso during a debate on "Waste and Circular Economy," an initiative held under the Azores Burning Summer. At the event, he revealed that the Government will "install a network to collect used textiles" and stressed the "absolute success" in the replacement of plastic bags by reusable bags throughout the Region.
 
"This year, on São Miguel Island, two-thirds of wooden packaging will be reused and will not be forwarded to other types of recovery, namely recycling," the government official said. He added that "this is the path we must continue following and this will also be the motto of the next Waste Week to take place in mid-November, an event that will focus on the reuse and repair of goods by giving them a new life."
 
Hernâni Jorge stressed that "the Regional Government's strategy will continue to focus on the reduction of waste production as we are the only Region of the country that has stabilised its production, even in a period of positive evolution of the economy." In this regard, he also highlighted that recycling is not only important but also the two other R's of sustainability: Reduce and Reuse.
 
Speaking to journalists after the debate, Hernâni Jorge emphasised the importance of actions to raise awareness among the population towards more sustainable habits, noting that the Region "has made great progress in this area" and "has registered a significant evolution over the last few years, compared to the rest of the country."