The Office of Environment of the Consell de Formentera is pleased to report that last year 10,583.02 tonnes (t) of rubbish were collected on the island, up 9.16% from 2021, when the total was 9,694.64 t. The 2022 figures are similar to 2019, when 10,223 t were collected.

In a historic record for the island, recyclable materials made up 33.91% of total collections. In recent years, figures have varied (in 2019, islanders recycled 25.59% of the rubbish they generated, compared to 25.04% in 2020 and 30.13% in 2021) and the 2022 figure marks a 3.78% year-on-year uptick. In other words, Formentera residents recycle one of every three kilos of waste they generate.

Antoni Tur, environment councillor, hailed the return of a positive recycling trend that was witnessed locally pre-pandemic, and asserted that the figures demonstrate "the awareness and commitment of the people of Formentera around recycling." Even still, the councillor insisted that "we must continue to work on improving pickup, generating less rubbish and increasing awareness." He pointed out that, though Formentera is leading the Balearics in recycling, we are far from" the 50% target set by legislation on waste and contaminated soils for a circular economy (Ley 7/2022; 8 April), adding, "The work isn't finished yet." According to Tur, the new waste collection service, which will be awarded shortly, and the deposit-refund system, "will also help in improving these figures and bring us closer to the goal."

Last year the island's waste pickup service registered 6,074 t of municipal solid waste, 919.60 t of over-size waste, 969.91 t of paper and cardboard, 1,021.97 t of plastic packaging, 1,087.82 t glass and 509.32 t of organic waste.

The month the most waste was collected was August (1,814 t), followed by July (1,582.24 t) and June (1,371.46 t). The months the least waste was collected were January and February (380.94 t and 408.28 t, respectively).

10 January 2023
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera