The Regional Director for the Environment stated that the average of packaging recovery per capita in the Azores is already higher than the national average.

Speaking at an awareness-raising action to mark the beginning of the 6th Azores Waste Week, Hernâni Jorge stressed that "more than 40 kilos of packaging are being recovered in the Region, while the national average has yet to reach 30 kilos."

The Regional Director said the 95 activities to be developed in the archipelago represent a significant increase in comparison to 2014, when there were 64 initiatives organised in partnerships with 30 entities. As he revealed, plastic "will be the main subject of awareness-raising actions" included in the 6th Azores Waste Week.

Speaking to reporters, Hernâni Jorge said that, although the forwarding of plastics for recycling has grown 23% compared to 2014, "this product continues to be a concern."

In this context, the activity carried out Friday was intended to raise the awareness of students from Horta Basic Education School for the importance of reducing the use of plastic bags and for the problems that these bags, as waste, may cause in the environment.

5th and 6th form students received a used bag that they placed in the plastic bags recycling bin. The activity was intended to represent the amount of plastic bags used per hour on Faial Island, about 330.

This session features the activity "Produce Less, Recycle More," which will be developed on all islands. It aims to draw attention to the amount of paper/cardboard and glass waste we consume per day on each island of the Azores as well as to the quantities that are being recycled.

Hernâni Jorge pointed out that one of the regional actions is precisely "the dissemination of a panel that shows the quantity of waste forwarded for recovery, namely packaging waste, on each island."

This initiative aims to "raise awareness" for what should be done in this process, which intends "to reach a municipal waste recovery rate over 50% by 2020."

Promoted by the Government of the Azores, through the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and the Environment, the 6th Week for Waste Reduction runs until November 29. The programme is available at the address http://www.azores.gov.pt/Gra/srrn-residuos/conteudos/livres/6ª+Edição+da+Semana+dos+Resíduos+dos+Açores.

The programme will be carried out by the Regional Directorate for the Environment. It involves 51 entities, including the public administration, municipalities and village councils, municipal companies, private companies, waste managing entities and waste operators, school establishments and non-government organisations.