The Regional Director for Science and Technology highlighted in Ponta Delgada the importance of the international "Urban-Waste" project as "a tool to search for methodologies and processes capable of providing the best response to the expected increase in waste" in the city of Ponta Delgada.
 
Bruno Pacheco pointed out that the Regional Fund for Science and Technology plays "a facilitating role by channelling funds from European programmes to the Azores, namely Horizon 2020, which grant funding to the "Urban-Waste" project in the amount of 100 thousand Euros.
 
The Regional Director spoke at the signing ceremony of the compromise agreement under "Urban-Waste - Urban strategies for waste management in tourist cities." On the occasion, he stressed that this project "is further evidence that the financing of Science may solve the challenges of our daily lives."
 
In this context, Bruno Pacheco stressed that the Regional Fund for Science and Technology aims to become a "platform towards the promotion of certain types of financing opportunities."
 
"Urban-Waste" is a European project that aims to present proposals to policy-makers for the development of "eco-innovative" policies as well as for the development of strategies addressing the challenges posed by tourism in terms of urban waste management and production.
 
This project brings together 28 partners and 11 pilot cities with the purpose of evaluating and defining urban waste reduction strategies in cities with high tourist pressures. It is being implemented in the city of Ponta Delgada by the City Council in partnership with the Fund For Science and Technology.
 
According to the Regional Director, "the Azorean Government, aware of what increased tourism flows entail, has decided to promote reflections and strategies among its various departments and services. They will ensure that tourism activities will be carried out in a sustainable manner and that the wealth generated will be distributed among the Azorean population in a fair and equitable way, always respecting Nature."
 
"All sectors are called to provide their contribution in order to render the new economic boost from tourism environmentally sustainable and socially fair," said the government official.
 
Bruno Pacheco challenged the entities attending the ceremony to "embrace new projects, whether in the area of tourism, waste management or biodiversity." They should create the conditions that will allow the socioeconomic fabric to regard the Regional Fund for Science and Technology as "a platform for problem solving and value creation, involving companies and research and development teams."
 
According to the Regional Director, "the huge opportunities that tourism has brought to the Azores are directly proportional to the challenges that policy-makers and the entire private sector face."
 
Therefore, Bruno Pacheco defended that fact the Municipality of Ponta Delgada was chosen as a regional partner in this project "makes perfect sense." In fact, it is the largest municipality in the Azores and "the largest gateway for tourists coming to the Azores, either by sea or by air."
 
"As it is also the largest urban centre in the Azores, the increase of tourist pressure is particularly noticeable," the government official said, adding that "waste management is another critical aspect in which interested parties, whether public or private, must take action."
 
"We cannot have effective public policies without their actual implementation in the field and we cannot expect a coherent action of economic agent without a consistent and responsible public guidance," stressed Bruno Pacheco.
 
Coordinated by the Government of the Canary Islands, "Urban-Waste" is a research and innovation action project with an overall budget over 4.2 million Euros.
 
The agreement signed today by 14 entities establishes the official commitment for the implementation of three strategic measures for waste management in Ponta Delgada: the replacement of disposable products in hotels; training courses and recycling consultancy for tourism establishments; translation and dissemination of waste separation instructions for more languages.
 
The partners of this agreement are the following: the Regional Fund for Science and Technology, the Regional Directorates for Tourism and the Environment, Ponta Delgada City Hall, MUSAMI - Municipal Environmental Operations, ARHESP - Association of Hotels, Restaurants and Similar Services of Portugal, Marina Atlântico Hotel, Azoris Royal Garden Hotel and Talisman Hotel, Quinta do Bom Despacho, ANA-Airports of Portugal, Regional Port Authorities, EFTH - Tourism and Hotel School and SATA Air Açores.