Arona has emerged as the leading municipality in Tenerife when it comes to the recycling of packaging, paper, and cardboard, surpassing both island and regional averages, according to data presented at the II Tenerife + Sostenible Forum. The forum, organized by the Cabildo of Tenerife, Tenerife + Sostenible, and Ecoembes, showcased Arona's outstanding performance in waste management.
The study titled 'The Challenge of Increasing Packaging Collection on the Island of Tenerife,' conducted by Carlota Cruz and Juan Carlos Arranz, revealed that the selective collection of light packaging in the Canary Islands reached 13.7 kilos per inhabitant in 2022.
Although Tenerife slightly lags behind this figure, with an average of 12.5 kilos, it has seen a notable increase of 5% compared to the previous year.
At the municipal level, Arona takes the lead with an impressive 19.1 kilos per inhabitant/year, marking an 89% increase over the past five years. This surge stands in stark contrast to the Canary Islands' average increase of 29% and Tenerife's 33% within the same period.
Arona's commitment to environmental sustainability extends to the collection of paper and cardboard, which also stands out as a reference on the island. While the average in the Archipelago was 14.2 kilos per inhabitant/year, Tenerife reported figures slightly lower at 13.6 kilos, reflecting a 3.8% increase compared to the previous year.
Arona, however, surpasses these numbers significantly, recording 29.9 kilos per inhabitant/year in the selective collection of paper and cardboard. This is more than double the average in both Tenerife and the Canary Islands as a whole.
Clari Pérez, the Councillor for the Environment, Sustainability, and Public Services, expressed her satisfaction with the news. She emphasised Arona's commitment to sustainability, stating, "By separating and recycling, we can guarantee sustainable development in our municipality to a greater extent."
She acknowledged the need for extensive awareness campaigns, especially among the younger population, recognising them as key players in determining the destiny of the planet. She highlighted the municipality's ongoing efforts to recover and reuse products and materials as part of its broader sustainability initiatives.
