Growing population

THE registered population in Calpe continues to rise.

The National Institute of Statistics has released figures that show that on January 1, 2023, there were 25,454 registered inhabitants in the town, that’s 1,758 more than there were in 2022.

A DOOR-TO-DOOR pilot waste collection scheme launched by Benitachell Town Council on March 1 is proving incredibly successful. Less than three weeks since the initiative started, the rate of properly separated waste has increased by almost 70 points from 12 per cent to 80 per cent. A tonne of organic waste was collected in one week. This is the first time in the history of Benitachell that organic waste has been separated properly. In the past, underground containers were installed, but they were unsuccessful. Food and organic waste were not separate, and everything ended up in the grey container.

chronic mental health issues (42 residential places in the CEEM and a further 45 for outpatients through the CRIS), making this the first public infrastructure of its type in the Marina Alta health district.

The investment comes after a recognition that there has been a historical lack of focus on social services for early childhood, the elderly and mental health ­ a problem exacerbated by the pandemic, which needs urgent attention.

On the one hand, this increase is due to people who have come from Ukraine and Russia because of the war that started last year. Last year, 364 Ukrainians and 191 Russians registered in the town. Other reasons are the awareness­raising, and work programmes carried out by the electoral roll.

One reason for not registering is a lack of information, and many foreigners do not realise that they have to renew their registration on the electoral roll. That’s why, last year, the council ran a campaign in different languages with videos, radio ads and posters.

Letters and text messages were also sent to citizens three months before their registrations expired to re­ mind them to renew.

All this hard work has allowed Calpe to increase its number of residents, which means more availability of state and healthcare funds.

The door­to­door system consists of leaving specific types of waste (paper and card, packaging, glass, organic and rest) outside the door on specific days and times for collection early the following morning. Participants received a calendar with the types of waste to take out every day in 2023.