The President of the Government announced in Vila do Porto that the Waste Processing Centres built on several islands, an investment of about 38 million Euros, have created more than one hundred jobs, thus evidencing the contribution of the so-called "green economy" to job creation in the Region.
 
"This is one of the aspects that deserve greater attention insofar as the Waste Processing Centres of Corvo, Flores, Pico, Faial, São Jorge, Graciosa and Santa Maria have created more than one hundred jobs on these islands," said Vasco Cordeiro.
 
The President of the Government spoke at the opening of Santa Maria Waste Processing Centre, an investment of nearly five million Euros that concludes one of the "major structural changes the Azores have seen" in recent times.
 
According to him, these centres are a strategic investment to ensure the Region's environmental sustainability, which also includes a work that has been developed in the area of prevention.
 
"Data from recent years show a trend in the reduction of waste production. In 2015, the Region generated less 7,350 tonnes of municipal waste compared to 2013, representing a reduction over 5%," added the President of the Government.
 
According to Vasco Cordeiro, 31% of municipal waste produced in 2015 were recovered and represents a significant increase compared to the 13% rate recorded in 2012, with the consequent reduction of landfilling.
 
On the first day of the statutory visit to Santa Maria, the President of the Government stressed that this new centre is another important step in the implementation of a comprehensive structural reform that promotes territorial cohesion, bearing in mind that it provides this type of service to all islands.
 
The Santa Maria Waste Processing Centre is equipped with several services: Eco-centre, where the waste collected on the island will be deposited selectively and the recyclable waste will be screened from unsorted waste; Organic Recovery and Composting Centre for the processing of organic waste into compost, being a resource for agriculture and gardening that will reduce the need for imports; Transfer Station for the forwarding of non-recyclable waste to its appropriate final destination.
 
The Santa Maria Waste Processing Centre contributed to the creation of 12 permanent jobs, which will add up to another four to be created soon," Vasco Cordeiro said, stressing that the Government of the Azores has been sealing landfills and dumps. These interventions represent a total investment of six million Euros aimed at the rehabilitation and regeneration of soil and landscape.
 
"The contract works taking place on the island of Flores and Graciosa are already concluded, the works on Corvo and Santa Maria are ongoing and those on the islands of São Jorge and Faial are currently under the awarding process; the respective works will be launched this year," said the government official.
 
On the occasion, the President of the Government also stressed the need to establish partnerships, namely with local authorities, so that we may harness the full potential of these waste processing centres.
 
"I urge the Municipality of Port Vila to promote a comprehensive and effective selective collection, moving forward with awareness and information actions for citizens," Vasco Cordeiro said, noting that the Government has already allocated financial support to the Municipality in the amount of 25 thousand Euros.