Economic crisis and low consumerism meant less rubbish in 2010

PALMA
LESS rubbish was collected and recycled last year on the island as a direct result of the economic crisis and low consumer spending, the Council of Majorca said yesterday.

Local government sources reported that the 668'344 tonnes removed from containers and doorsteps last year were a 4.5 percent downturn on the volume registered in 2009.

Nevertheless, the same sources confirmed that 58'846 tonnes of the total collected in 2010 were recycled, .... 2'288 more than in 2009 (+4%). The boost to recycling was due to an important rise in the amount of glass that was left in selective rubbish containers (+13.43%) and also to the fact that there are now facilities for people to organically recycle their garden waste.

The Council's Waste Management department explained that both its short and long-term aims are to reduce the amount of non-recyclable or non-treatable material to the absolute minimum.