Consensual solution for accumulated waste on Flores island

July 6, 2023

A meeting took place today in Lajes das Flores, which involved the Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Change, Alonso Miguel, the President of the Council of Ilha das Flores, the Mayors of Lajes das Flores and Santa Cruz das Flores, Regional Deputies elected by the island of Flores, Presidents of the Parish Council and the technical teams of the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Change and Resiaçores – Gestão de Residuos dos Açores, LDA, in order to find a solution for the waste accumulated in the waste processing center island waste.

The Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Change, Alonso Miguel, said “that, on the island of Flores, there has been a gradual accumulation of waste, in recent years, at the Waste Processing Centre, which has increased significantly due to the passage of the hurricane Lorenzo, in 2019, and storm Efrain, in 2022, which caused the inoperability of the commercial port of Lajes das Flores, as well as new constraints in terms of maritime transport”.

"These events led to the accumulation of various types of waste, as well as non-screened stabilized compost, making it difficult to effectively and efficiently manage the space of the Waste Processing Center", said the official, adding that "this compost, due to its characteristics, it was the target of a large infestation of cockroaches, which made its processing unfeasible, resulting in an overcrowding of the Waste Processing Center”.

The Regional Secretary also stated that “there was a lot of participation and involvement by all, with various options having been discussed, the pros and cons of each one explored, a concerted and consensual position having been taken among those present at the meeting”.

“As agreed between the Regional Government and Transinsular, recyclable waste, refuse and wood will be transported in the next three trips to an appropriate destination. With regard to non-screened stabilized compost, infested by cockroaches, which cannot be transported by sea, it was agreed that a joint operation will be set up between the Regional Government, the Municipal Councils and Resiaçores, to proceed with its transport and disposal by burial, after preparation and disinfestation”, he clarified.

Alonso Miguel also reinforced that “during the visit to the Waste Processing Center, it was possible to demonstrate to those present that it is not garbage, but treated and stabilized compost, which does not produce leachates or gas emissions, whose environmental impact is small. ”.

"This is a one-off and exceptional situation, provided for by law, in the absence of an alternative, in order to safeguard public health, and, given the contingencies, this was the best possible solution from an environmental point of view", he stressed.

The Regional Secretary also added that “the necessary conditions are also being created, with an investment of more than one million euros in the Flores Waste Processing Centre, to be concluded by the end of 2023, so that this situation does not repeat again in the future”.

Also during the meeting, Alonso Miguel stressed that "it was also agreed that a coordinated information and awareness action will be carried out among the population, in order to explain the solutions found, as well as to clarify that the excellent work carried out by the Florentines in the separation of waste was not called into question, and the normal management operation and forwarding for recycling continued to be ensured”.