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Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e Ação Climática
Alonso Miguel highlights refurbishment and modernisation of Graciosa Waste Processing Centre after fire
Alonso Miguel highlights refurbishment and modernisation of Graciosa Waste Processing Centre after fire
Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e Ação Climática
Regional Government marked World Environment Day on Graciosa Island
Regional Government marked World Environment Day on Graciosa Island
Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e Ação Climática
Press release
Press release
June 8, 2026
Alonso Miguel highlights refurbishment and modernisation of Graciosa Waste Processing Centre after fire
June 5, 2026
Regional Government marked World Environment Day on Graciosa Island
June 3, 2026
Press release
News
Nota de Imprensa
June 8, 2026
Alonso Miguel highlights refurbishment and modernisation of Graciosa Waste Processing Centre after fire
The Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Action, Alonso Miguel, visited the Waste Processing Centre (CPR) on the island of Graciosa on World Environment Day. According to the Regional Secretary, this facility is “essential in terms of waste management, environmental quality, hygiene and public health.” However, “it unfortunately suffered considerable damage following a major fire on October 9, 2025, which destroyed the sorting Scarcity and all the equipment within it, while also affecting the composting plant.” Alonso Miguel took the opportunity to acknowledge and “commend the responsiveness and proactivity of the concessionaire – Equiambi, LDA – and its staff, who were instrumental in finding solutions to maintain operations and prevent any interruption to waste reception at the CPR.” Alonso Miguel emphasised that “the prompt intervention of the concessionaire ensured, from the very first moments after the fire broke out, the resumption of waste reception at the Graciosa CPR, without any significant impact on the provision of public services and without causing any harm to the population.” “Following the incident, in an unexpected and challenging situation, the company responded immediately with a series of essential measures to ensure the system’s operational continuity, notably by reorganising waste reception and processing areas, mobilising material and human resources to the CPR, and outsourcing specialist services for the dismantling and removal of the affected structures,” he said. Alonso Miguel added that, “now that the expert assessment and insurance claim procedures have been completed, masonry work is already underway.” In this regard, he noted that “most of the materials required for the construction of the new plant, namely roofing and support pillars, are already on the island, with assembly expected to begin next week.” The Regional Secretary revealed that the construction of the new infrastructure is expected to be completed by the end of August, when the new sorting lines purchased by the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action will also be installed. The government official also noted that “the Regional Government of the Azores has been making a very significant investment in the refurbishment, modernisation and outfitting of regional Waste Processing Centres, an investment that now amounts to around €10 million.” Alonso Miguel pointed out that “the procedures for restructuring the Waste processing Centres were completed in 2023 to implement the composting process for the separate collection of organic waste, which included the purchase of industrial equipment for processing bio-waste, representing an investment of over €6 million.” He added that “in February 2025, well before the fire occurred, a tender was launched for the modernisation of recycling processes, involving the installation of new sorting lines, representing an overall investment of over €3 million.” In the specific case of Graciosa Island, the Regional Secretary stated that “investment in the construction of the composting plant and the purchase of the aforementioned industrial equipment amounted to €1 million, whilst the purchase and installation of the new waste reception and sorting line represents an investment of over €800,000.” Alonso Miguel therefore emphasised that “the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action has already invested over €1.8 million in the refurbishment, modernisation and outfitting of the Waste Processing Centre on the island of Graciosa, over a period of just three years.” He concluded: “The aim is for the entire refurbishment and modernisation process of the infrastructure to be completed by the end of August, ensuring that the Graciosa Island Waste Processing Centre has more modern facilities and a significantly greater operational capacity for waste management.”
June 8, 2026
Alonso Miguel highlights refurbishment and modernisation of Graciosa Waste Processing Centre after fire
The Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Action, Alonso Miguel, visited the Waste Processing Centre (CPR) on the island of Graciosa on World Environment Day. According to the Regional Secretary, this facility is “essential in terms of waste management, environmental quality, hygiene and public health.” However, “it unfortunately suffered considerable damage following a major fire on October 9, 2025, which destroyed the sorting Scarcity and all the equipment within it, while also affecting the composting plant.” Alonso Miguel took the opportunity to acknowledge and “commend the responsiveness and proactivity of the concessionaire – Equiambi, LDA – and its staff, who were instrumental in finding solutions to maintain operations and prevent any interruption to waste reception at the CPR.” Alonso Miguel emphasised that “the prompt intervention of the concessionaire ensured, from the very first moments after the fire broke out, the resumption of waste reception at the Graciosa CPR, without any significant impact on the provision of public services and without causing any harm to the population.” “Following the incident, in an unexpected and challenging situation, the company responded immediately with a series of essential measures to ensure the system’s operational continuity, notably by reorganising waste reception and processing areas, mobilising material and human resources to the CPR, and outsourcing specialist services for the dismantling and removal of the affected structures,” he said. Alonso Miguel added that, “now that the expert assessment and insurance claim procedures have been completed, masonry work is already underway.” In this regard, he noted that “most of the materials required for the construction of the new plant, namely roofing and support pillars, are already on the island, with assembly expected to begin next week.” The Regional Secretary revealed that the construction of the new infrastructure is expected to be completed by the end of August, when the new sorting lines purchased by the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action will also be installed. The government official also noted that “the Regional Government of the Azores has been making a very significant investment in the refurbishment, modernisation and outfitting of regional Waste Processing Centres, an investment that now amounts to around €10 million.” Alonso Miguel pointed out that “the procedures for restructuring the Waste processing Centres were completed in 2023 to implement the composting process for the separate collection of organic waste, which included the purchase of industrial equipment for processing bio-waste, representing an investment of over €6 million.” He added that “in February 2025, well before the fire occurred, a tender was launched for the modernisation of recycling processes, involving the installation of new sorting lines, representing an overall investment of over €3 million.” In the specific case of Graciosa Island, the Regional Secretary stated that “investment in the construction of the composting plant and the purchase of the aforementioned industrial equipment amounted to €1 million, whilst the purchase and installation of the new waste reception and sorting line represents an investment of over €800,000.” Alonso Miguel therefore emphasised that “the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action has already invested over €1.8 million in the refurbishment, modernisation and outfitting of the Waste Processing Centre on the island of Graciosa, over a period of just three years.” He concluded: “The aim is for the entire refurbishment and modernisation process of the infrastructure to be completed by the end of August, ensuring that the Graciosa Island Waste Processing Centre has more modern facilities and a significantly greater operational capacity for waste management.”
Nota de Imprensa
June 5, 2026
Regional Government marked World Environment Day on Graciosa Island
The Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Action, Alonso Miguel, marked today World Environment Day on the island of Graciosa. He emphasised that this occasion aims to “alert and raise awareness amongst the entire community of the importance of preserving our planet and the complex environmental challenges we face, such as climate change, environmental pollution, the destruction of ecosystems and the depletion of natural resources.” The government official emphasised that “ the key theme for World Environment Day in 2026 is climate action, an issue that has been a priority for the Government.” In this regard, he added that “the date was marked on Graciosa, an island classified as a Biosphere Reserve, which has distinguished itself in various environmental fields, particularly in terms of energy transition, decarbonisation and the production of renewable energy.” Alonso Miguel noted that, “in addition to the implementation of a wide range of climate action tools and projects, such as the Regional Climate Change Programme, the LIFE IP Climaz Project and the Roadmap for Carbon Neutrality in the Azores, the Regional Government has placed a strong emphasis on environmental literacy. He pointed out that success in this challenge depends not only on appropriate public policies, but also on the involvement of society as a whole and, above all, on the individual commitment of every citizen.” The Regional Secretary also emphasised that schools are key agents in disseminating information and knowledge, playing an essential role in shaping citizens who are better prepared, more aware and committed to the future of the planet. For this reason, the Regional Secretariat organises the School Environmental Awareness Activities Programme (OASAE) every year, aimed at all regional schools. According to Alonso Miguel, “the OASAE for the 2025/2026 school year comprises a total of 65 activities designed for all levels of education, covering various thematic areas such as climate change, nature conservation, water resources and the circular economy.” “I would like to point out that, since the implementation of this educational programme in 2022, more than 3,500 activities have already been organised, involving around 80,000 young people across all the islands of the archipelago,” he said. As part of the celebrations held in Graciosa, Alonso Miguel revealed that “a rich and diverse programme was prepared in collaboration with the Santa Cruz da Graciosa Basic Education School. It included the hoisting of the Eco-Schools flag and a series of workshops on climate change, recycling, biodiversity, geodiversity, coastal ecosystems, sustainability and Biosphere Reserves.” The Regional Secretary also noted that the event was an opportunity to “launch a collection of educational videos, produced by the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action, as tools to support environmental awareness and education. They cover various environmental themes and challenges, such as climate change, water management, waste and the circular economy, the Azores’ Nature Parks, and endemic and invasive species.” At the same time, he added, several activities were prepared to be carried out across all the islands of the Azores. They involved the participation of hundreds of children and young people from various schools and educational centres in the Region, with a particular focus on the launch of the game “Trivial – Climate Change in the Azores,” developed as part of the LIFE IP CLIMAZ project. The Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action also marked the occasion by delivering one hundred game sets to schools across the Region.
June 5, 2026
Regional Government marked World Environment Day on Graciosa Island
The Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Action, Alonso Miguel, marked today World Environment Day on the island of Graciosa. He emphasised that this occasion aims to “alert and raise awareness amongst the entire community of the importance of preserving our planet and the complex environmental challenges we face, such as climate change, environmental pollution, the destruction of ecosystems and the depletion of natural resources.” The government official emphasised that “ the key theme for World Environment Day in 2026 is climate action, an issue that has been a priority for the Government.” In this regard, he added that “the date was marked on Graciosa, an island classified as a Biosphere Reserve, which has distinguished itself in various environmental fields, particularly in terms of energy transition, decarbonisation and the production of renewable energy.” Alonso Miguel noted that, “in addition to the implementation of a wide range of climate action tools and projects, such as the Regional Climate Change Programme, the LIFE IP Climaz Project and the Roadmap for Carbon Neutrality in the Azores, the Regional Government has placed a strong emphasis on environmental literacy. He pointed out that success in this challenge depends not only on appropriate public policies, but also on the involvement of society as a whole and, above all, on the individual commitment of every citizen.” The Regional Secretary also emphasised that schools are key agents in disseminating information and knowledge, playing an essential role in shaping citizens who are better prepared, more aware and committed to the future of the planet. For this reason, the Regional Secretariat organises the School Environmental Awareness Activities Programme (OASAE) every year, aimed at all regional schools. According to Alonso Miguel, “the OASAE for the 2025/2026 school year comprises a total of 65 activities designed for all levels of education, covering various thematic areas such as climate change, nature conservation, water resources and the circular economy.” “I would like to point out that, since the implementation of this educational programme in 2022, more than 3,500 activities have already been organised, involving around 80,000 young people across all the islands of the archipelago,” he said. As part of the celebrations held in Graciosa, Alonso Miguel revealed that “a rich and diverse programme was prepared in collaboration with the Santa Cruz da Graciosa Basic Education School. It included the hoisting of the Eco-Schools flag and a series of workshops on climate change, recycling, biodiversity, geodiversity, coastal ecosystems, sustainability and Biosphere Reserves.” The Regional Secretary also noted that the event was an opportunity to “launch a collection of educational videos, produced by the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action, as tools to support environmental awareness and education. They cover various environmental themes and challenges, such as climate change, water management, waste and the circular economy, the Azores’ Nature Parks, and endemic and invasive species.” At the same time, he added, several activities were prepared to be carried out across all the islands of the Azores. They involved the participation of hundreds of children and young people from various schools and educational centres in the Region, with a particular focus on the launch of the game “Trivial – Climate Change in the Azores,” developed as part of the LIFE IP CLIMAZ project. The Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action also marked the occasion by delivering one hundred game sets to schools across the Region.