Charge for rubbish service goes up

The Council of Majorca will raise the charge for managing refuse disposal by just over six percent to 8'331 pesetas, it was announced yesterday by Miquel Angel Borras, head of the Council's environment department. However, he was quick to point out that the increase is less than the accumulated inflation rate over the past two years, when the charge remained unaltered. Borras, accompanied by Council president Maria Antonia Munar, explained the new services which his department will launch for a more efficient handling of rubbish. Munar underlined the “spectacular“ increase in selective collection which showed, she said, that people are becoming more and more aware of the importance of selective collection and recycling. Last year, 464'000 tons of paper, cardboard and glass were collected. Borras said that the 8'331 pesetas of the new charge would be divided as follows: 1'544 pesetas for transport and 6'787 pesetas for treatment and maintenance. He also said that before the end of the year, a provisional packaging plant will be set up at a cost of 80 million pesetas, with a capacity of handling 400 tons a year. He also announced that the Ses Barracas tip in Calvia will be closed within the next few days and rubbish from Calvia and Andraitx will be taken to Son Reus. Hotels will also collaborate in a more rational selective process for collecting rubbish.