The Formentera Council's Office of Environment reports that from June to September, a four-month pilot programme across fifty businesses and other establishments in Sant Francesc meant that 100 tonnes of organic waste were collected for recycling.
The list of participants included bars, cafés, hotels, supermarkets, a hospital and a school — all considered producers of substantial quantities of waste. Each one was given special, small bins which crews picked up on nightly door-to-door collection runs.
Environment secretary Daisee Aguilera thanked participating businesses for their efforts, which made for a savings of €167 per tonne —or €16,700 over all— by reducing the waste that is treated and shipped to Eivissa.
Compost
Councillor Aguilera pointed to other benefits too, like a programme at the Formentera treatment plant that will supply local farms with compost. Organic matter and a special mixture of tree clippings to add structure are allowed to mature during a four-month process that ultimately produces compost for farmers of the island.
According to Aguilera the idea behind the initiative —repurposing organic waste to create a product apt for local fields— is “zero waste production”. Council personnel with specialist training have described the quality of the compost (participants are urged to set aside organic waste alone) as “very good”.
The €80,000 programme is paid for by the Formentera Council and a €32,000 grant by the Leader group. On the back of the programme's bumper response, the Council is studying expanding the organic rubbish recycling programme across other “big rubbish producers” on the island.
The tourism and environment offices of the Formentera Council announce that they will begin accepting funding requests for conservation-related projects under the Save Posidonia Project. The period for submissions —which can be made on behalf of a business or an individual— will remain open for forty days from today, Thursday, December 28. Projects must focus on protection of the marine plant.
The Formentera Council's Office of Culture and Festivities announces that New Year's Eve celebrations on the island will be headed up by the band Tremendos. From 1.00am, Catalunya's turbocharged contribution to the country's body of cover bands will provide the tunes as the crowd in the Sant Ferran festival tent rings in 2018.
The Formentera Council language department has released its 2018 calendar of 12 different kinds of grapes. With 2,000 copies printed, the Council is giving them away for free at the Citizen Information Office (OAC), the Sant Francesc library and the hospital. Each month comes with a photograph and a short feature on one of 12 grape varieties.
The Formentera Council's Office of Sport has honoured winners of the island's third Concurs de Fotografia Esportiva, or Sports Photography Contest. They are Oskar Matxin, whose “Som de 2a B” earned the photographer a €300 prize; Alessandro Ramazzotti, who won €200 for “Furia” and Paula Torrano, awarded €100 in recognition of “Rodando en Es Pujols”. The winning prints will be displayed at Antoni Blanc fitness centre.