Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Action opened seminar on "Environmental Safety and Waste Management" - Communication

Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e Ação Climática

The Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Action, Alonso Miguel, presided over the opening session of a seminar on "Environmental Safety and Waste Management on Tuesday in Ponta Delgada. The event was organised by the National Republican Guard (GNR) to address and discuss the challenges and strategies facing the Azores, as part of the celebrations of the 140th anniversary of the Azores Territorial Command.

Alonso Miguel pointed out that the topic of "Environmental Safety and Waste Management" is of paramount importance for the future of the Azores, being one of the key areas of government action in the Region.

The government official took the opportunity to congratulate GNR for organising the initiative. According to him, the event "provides an important forum for debate and reflection on the main challenges facing the Azores regarding waste management, the circular economy and environmental safety and sustainability. It seeks to contribute to improving the Region's performance in these areas, through the involvement and participation of regional and national experts."

The Regional Secretary acknowledged that “this event makes a significant contribution to the training and technical capacity building of human resources in the regional public administration, local authorities and the business community. It also provides an additional stimulus in terms of environmental education and awareness among the population, which is a priority for the Regional Government."

“In 2024, the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action promoted 38 environmental awareness sessions on waste, involving more than 800 participants, in addition to 320 other actions carried out as part of the Azores Waste Week, which is also coordinated by the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action, involving more than 11,000 participants," he recalled.

Alonso Miguel stated that "the transition to a circular economy model represents, nonetheless, an enormous challenge, whose success depends on a strong commitment to training, awareness-raising and environmental education. It also requires  the involvement of citizens, institutions and businesses in decision-making, the development of environmental policies and the adoption of good practices."

The Regional Secretary acknowledged that "this seminar is an example of involvement and commitment to the goal of environmental sustainability, aligned with the public policies implemented in the Region in terms of waste management and the circular economy."

Alonso Miguel noted that “one of the most significant initiatives in this area was the creation of the Roadmap for the Regional Circular Economy, which aimed to adapt the new Action Plan for the Circular Economy, one of the main pillars of the European Green Deal, to the Region. This has led to the development of the Agenda for the Circular Economy of the Autonomous Region of the Azores.”

“The publication of this Agenda in early 2025 provided the Region with a strategic document, with a vision for the Azorean economy based on efficiency, sustainability and a transition model based on the principles of the circular economy. It identifies seven strategic sectors and contains 61 measures and actions to be implemented by 2030,” he added.

The government official also pointed out that the Regional Government has developed other projects and actions of great relevance in this area, such as the modernisation of Waste Processing Centres on several islands, with an investment of around €10 million, and the implementation of a deposit system for non-reusable beverage packaging, which involved an investment of €2 million.

Alonso Miguel pointed out "the Regional Government's strong commitment to environmental education and awareness and to improving waste management, both in terms of investment and in terms of developments in the applicable legislation. This has been achieved in conjunction with the efforts made by local authorities, waste management operators and other entities with responsibility in this area, as well as by the Azorean population, which has led to very positive developments in the Region."

The Regional Secretary emphasised that "this positive path, with remarkable progress, is clearly evident when analysing the latest data from the Regional Waste Information System. It shows that, in 2024, the Region achieved a Preparation for Reuse and Recycling Rate of 48%, coming very close to reaching the EU target of 55% set for 2025.”

He concluded: "The Landfill Diversion Rate has been reduced to 24%, which means that we have already achieved the 30% target set in the PEPGRA for 2025 and that we are on track to fully meet the EU target of 10% set for 2035."