Ecoembes

SPEARHEADING THE RECYCLING MOVEMENT IN SPAIN

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF ECOEMBES

If you are an eco-friendly family that makes full use of the plethora of yellow and blue recycling bins you see along the Costa del Sol (and indeed in the rest of Spain), then you may have wondered who makes them available, what occurs to the items you pop into these bins, and the extent to which you are benefitting the Planet. The last query can be answered immediately: You are making a big difference. Víctor Vázquez, Waste Management Specialist at Ecoembes (Andalusian office) recently enlightened me with useful data: “Approximately 80 soda pop cans can be recycled into a bicycle tyre, eight cans of conserves can be transformed into a cooking pot, and 550 aluminium cans can become an aluminium chair.” His words highlight one important fact: successful recycling starts with you, so maintain your resolve and use the many available recycling bins. If you haven’t already started, meanwhile, what are you waiting for – another polar ice cap to start melting? with 12,669 member companies. It works closely alongside local governments and a wide range of businesses involved in the manufacture, distribution, sale, and recycling of waste products.

WHAT IS ECOEMBES?

Ecoembes is a not-for-profit organisation whose main remit is to coordinate the selective pick-up and recovery of light packaging (plastic, metal and carton) and paper and cardboard packaging for its subsequent recycling. Its aim is to comply with the Spanish and EU legal requirements containing obligations to reduce the environmental impact of packaging and find new uses for unwanted materials.

Ecoembes was founded in 1996 and it runs an integrated management system (in accordance with Law 11/97 on Packaging and Plastic Waste)

FINDING NEW LIFE FOR WASTED PACKAGING

In addition to coordinating the packaging recycling system, Víctor explains, “we also work closely with local administrations to select the waste products and residue that are brought to recycling companies to be converted into primary products that can be made into a range of useful items.” The success achieved by this entity is impressive indeed. Víctor says, “In 2020, we delivered 1,490,283 tons of domestic packaging to official recycling centres and prevented the emission of 1.67 million tons of CO2 into the atmosphere.”

ANDALUCÍA LEADING THE WAY

Andalucía’s results are particularly impressive. Víctor elaborates, “Over the past five years, the use of our bins in Andalucía has increased by 27 per cent. The Costa del Sol mancomunidad (local entity) has one of the highest percentage of citizen involvement in Spain and in no small part it is owing to the eco-awareness and participation of residents from abroad.” Ecoembes. It also indicates that it contributes financially to this system). The amount paid depends on the type of packaging used.

REVOLUTIONISING PACKAGING Víctor tells me that Ecoembes is also helping to battle climate change via prevention: “We work on the eco-design of packaging

WHO FINANCES ECOEMBES?

Ecoembes is financed by the contributions of member companies, which pay an annual amount toward the ‘Green Dot system’ (the ‘Green Dot’ is a symbol visible on all packaging handled by Ecoembes’ integrated management system. It signifies that the company responsible for a particular packaged product complies with the Packaging Law via its membership in with smaller carbon footprints. For over 20 years, we have been collaborating with packaging companies and have helped formulate over 45,000 measures that reduce the environmental impact of their products.” Ecoembes carries out studies whose results are used to propose regulatory changes and new management models. ›

EDUCATION AND CITIZEN ACTION

Ecoembes is also big on education and it has many programmes that run simultaneously, each with its own goal. Naturaliza, for instance, is centred on incorporating environmental topics into the educational system. “We train teachers and provide them with online resources so they can incorporate environmental studies into core subjects such as Science, Maths, Languages, and so forth. Some resources are in English so that bilingual centres can avail of them. We also encourage teachers to take their students out into Nature, proposing various activities and giving them the tools they need to carry them out.”

Another important project is LIBERA, which encourages citizens to gather together and take part in freeing natural areas, rivers, beaches, and other spaces from rubbish. “If every person cleaned up just one metre of their local area, imagine how many millions of metres would be rubbish-free.” SEO/Birdlife, in alliance with Ecoembes, sends volunteers the equipment they need to clean – including gloves, recycled bin bags, and the like. If you are interested in these or any other programmes, check out Ecoembes’ website, which also provides information in English. i www.ecoembes.com

GASTRONOMIC CELEBRATIONS #PUENTELIFE365

DECEMBER 2021 | The pre-Christmas social

calendar starts and Puente Romano prepares for

the festivities! Looking forward to welcoming friends

and co-workers for a gastronomic get together. SEA GRILL | The perfect seafront venue for an

all-round elegant lunch or dinner event.

SUPPERCLUB | Dinner & show, followed by

dancing till late.

discover the o ers!

CHRISTMAS OFFICE PARTIES & EVENTS

bback to CONTENTS gourmet WITH VILLA PADIERNA BEACH CLUB REMAINING OPEN THIS AUTUMN, YOU CAN CONTINUE TO ENJOY AN EXEMPLARY LUNCH IN A SUPERLATIVE SETTING – ALSO, FIND OUT ABOUT THEIR SUNDAY BRUNCH BEING LAUNCHED ON OCTOBER 10. WE REPORT ON MIRACULOUS MYCELIUM AND ITS POTENTIAL TO HELP THE PLANET, AND ON THE NEW BREED OF WHITE RIOJA WINES.

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