Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action reveals that 15th Waste Week was the most attended ever in the Azores - Communication

Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e Ação Climática

The Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action organised the 15th Waste Week in the Azores from November 16 to 24, under the theme "Food Waste."

As part of the 16th European Week for Waste Reduction, this initiative included various actions on all islands, promoted by public and private entities.

According to the Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Action, Alonso Miguel, "the 15th Waste Week in the Azores aimed to raise awareness of one of the biggest global environmental challenges - food waste. It is estimated that more than 59 million tonnes of food are wasted annually in Europe, the equivalent of a staggering 131 kg per person, with serious economic, social and environmental consequences."

Alonso Miguel also emphasised that "this is an increasingly evident reality that has had economic, social and environmental repercussions worldwide. It represents a significant contribution to the waste of resources, such as water and energy, the degradation of ecosystems, the loss of biodiversity and the increase in greenhouse gas emissions in producing this wasted food, with negative effects on the environment and the planet's future."

This year's Azorean Waste Week saw the largest number of initiatives since its creation with around 300 activities held across the Region, evidencing the growing public awareness of the importance of sustainable waste management and promoting the circular economy. These activities included sustainable cooking workshops, talks by nutrition and sustainability experts and home composting programmes, among other initiatives. They helped disseminate good practices to reduce food waste and improve the use of resources.

The initiative involved 95 regional entities, including various Regional Public Administration departments, local authorities, private companies, waste management operators, educational establishments, associations and Non-Governmental Organisations.

According to Alonso Miguel, "This large number of participants shows significant progress in raising public awareness and collective involvement in such an important issue. Regarding the actions promoted directly by the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action, we highlight 30 sessions, which reached around 730 students, with a variety of activities, such as cleaning the lakeshores, colouring textiles with bio-waste, reading children's stories and visiting Waste Processing Centres."

At a European level, the impact of the European Week for Waste Reduction was also significant, with 12,724 actions in 29 countries, 463 of which took place in Portugal. This highlights the country's active role, particularly in the Azores, in mobilising for waste reduction and promoting sustainability.

Alonso Miguel stressed that "the efforts and awareness campaigns developed as part of these initiatives have contributed not only to changing behaviours but also to achieving tangible results in waste management." He concluded that "the continuous rise in recycling readiness rates in the Azores, year after year, is proof of this positive evolution in terms of raising the population's awareness and the implementation of sound environmental practices. These aspects are crucial for building a more sustainable future."