Alonso Miguel highlights Azores' positive progress in sustainable water and waste management - Communication

Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e Ação Climática

The Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Action, Alonso Miguel, chaired today the opening of the 14th International Technical Conference on Waste, under the theme “Waste and Water Management in Extreme Situations: The Challenge of Remoteness,” taking place at the University of the Azores in Ponta Delgada.

Alonso Miguel stressed that improving waste management, transitioning to a circular economy, and sustainable water management are priority goals worldwide. However, "these goals pose additional challenges in the Azores, given the Region's geographical location and specificities."

“For island regions such as ours, marked by geographical isolation, limited territory, scarce resources and high dependence on imports, facing specific challenges on the path to sustainable development, the transition to a circular economy is more than a choice; it is an absolute necessity,” he continued.

"In this respect, these technical conferences, involving national and international experts, provide a privileged space for reflection and debate on the challenges of remoteness when it comes to sustainability in the waste and water sectors," he added.

Alonso Miguel considered that the decision to hold this international event in the Azores is a recognition and acknowledgement of the work that has been done in the field of waste and water management in the Region. Here, "through a significant joint effort between the Regional Government and the various competent authorities, it has been possible to ensure positive developments that have put the Azores in the spotlight on the national scene and attracted international attention, especially from other island regions facing similar challenges."

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

Alonso Miguel stressed that “these are very exciting results, especially when compared to the rest of the country, as this rate is twice that of the Autonomous Region of Madeira, which stood at 24%, and much higher than that of Mainland Portugal, which reached 37%.”

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

Alonso Miguel emphasised that various initiatives, actions and investments from the Regional Government have decisively contributed to this progress, particularly from a legislative standpoint. In this regard, he highlghted the approval of the new  Strategic Waste Prevention and Management Programme for Azores (PEPGRA 20+), the development of the Agenda for the Circular Economy of the Azores and the revision of the General Waste Prevention and Management Scheme.

He continued: "Several relevant projects and investments have also been developed, notably the recovery, restructuring and modernisation of the Waste Processing Centres on our islands, with an investment of about €10 million in just three years, and the pilot project for the implementation of a Deposit System for Non-Reusable Beverage Packaging in the Azores, which, over three years, has led to the collection and recycling of more than 20 million packages, representing an investment of two million Euros.”

“In addition to all these investments, there has been a continuous focus on surveillance and environmental education. In 2024, the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action promoted 38 awareness-raising sessions on waste, along with 320 other actions developed as part of the European Waste Week, involving 12,000 participants,” he said.

The Regional Secretary stressed that "despite the favourable rainfall pattern in the Azores, which provides water availability in excess of consumption needs, water management on the islands also poses particular challenges."

“Firstly, challenges arising from uncertainties associated with water availability in projected future climate scenarios, but also related to the fact that 98% of the water collected for supply comes from underground sources. This poses additional challenges, such as saline intrusion into aquifers or the technical and financial requirements for accessing resources," he stressed.

Alonso Miguel added that there are other limitations in terms of water distribution, which stem from the deterioration of supply networks or the lack of separate networks for supplying water to the population and the agricultural sector, which is an additional pressure factor.

The government official acknowledged that "all these challenges require collaboration between entities and integrated planning. The aim is to ensure the monitoring and modernisation of infrastructures, the diversification of water sources, adequate storage, the reduction of losses and the reuse of water, in addition to a strong commitment to education and environmental literacy on the responsible use of water."

"Institutional coordination, adequate funding and technical training for management entities are also essential conditions for turning plans into practical action to tackle future challenges with confidence and strategic vision," he said.

Alonso Miguel recalled that, as far as the Regional Government is concerned, strategic and operational measures have been developed and implemented. These include the amendment to the Azores Regional Water Programme, the revision of the Azores Hydrographic Region Management Plan, the approval of the 2nd cycle of the Azores Flood Risk Management Plan, the recent creation of the Azores Drought and Scarcity Management Plan, and the ongoing installation of flood warning systems in high-risk hydrographic basins across the Region.

The government official concluded his speech by emphasising that "all these instruments, combined with a strong commitment to environmental education and adequate enforcement, reinforce the Azores' commitment to sustainable water and waste management, with a view to ensuring the sustainable development of the islands."