Interview with Genoveva Català, Director of the Catalunya Agència de Residus (ARC)
February 19, 2010
Is it possible to have a sustainable management of waste from a social, economic and environmental point of view?
I believe that it is not only possible, but it is necessary. We produce and consume with the least impact environmental and, subsequently, reuse and recycle the maximum of possible materials. We must incorporate elements of sustainability from the start of the conception of products and services, so that when they reach the end of its useful life, as waste management is more efficient. This has many advantages, such as the contribution to not degrade the environment, the rational use of resources and energy, the promotion of a strategic economic sector, and the generation of occupation, to give some examples.
Countries like Germany not already deposited waste untreated in landfills. Not should Spain imitate the German model?
Yes, indeed, in Catalonia this already happens, not only in landfills but also in incinerators. With the Catalan rules provides that waste can not get to landfills or incinerators if before they have not gone through a treatment process that ensures the maximum recovery of materials. This treatment is that the fraction 'rest' plants, which are characteristic of the Catalan model of municipal waste management.
Does the European directive on waste management appropriate?
The waste directive as the overall framework is positive, and must work to strengthen the hierarchy in the management of waste that it establishes. On the other hand, the directive opens an interesting country in relation to the objectives of recycling and also leaves a field of very open labour in relation to the end of life of residue condition. It must also bear in mind that we must adapt the directive to the characteristics of each territory, as for example with regard to the formula for energy recovery, according to the weather of each place.
How you place to Catalonia in the area of management of waste from the rest of Spanish communities?
I believe that Catalonia is among the autonomous communities advanced in the field of waste management. We have made a strong bet for the selective collection of different fractions of waste, especially of the organic fraction (which is compulsory by law), and we are investing resources to provide modern and efficient treatment facilities to ensure the maximum recovery of waste. With regard to municipal waste, in 2008, collected selectively in Catalonia 34.4%, compared to 17% of the Spanish media in 2007. And in the productive sector that goes even beyond, the Catalan industries in 2008 whose 75% of waste generated.
What do you think of energy recovery?
With the Catalan rules considers energy recovery treatment runner-up, at the same hierarchical level as landfills. I believe that when it is used it should be made with energy efficiency, as it establishes the framework waste directive, and strict compliance with all the guarantees of protection to the environment and the health of persons, as is currently the case in the facilities of this kind that exist today in Catalonia.
The campaign against plastic bags has caused a great impact, both in public and in plastics transformers of our country. What do you think thereon? What solution propose, taking into account the environment and its impact on the sector of plastics?
The Government of Catalonia has set a goal of reducing the consumption of plastic bags from a single-use 50% in 2012. To achieve this we have reached an agreement without precedent with all the distribution sector and the manufacturing of plastics, the 'Pact for the bag', that establishments implement reduction measures they consider appropriate. Thus, what we have achieved is that consumers have more options for transporting your purchase, by promoting a rational and responsible for plastic bags consumption.
Do you think that the population is sufficiently sensitized recycling?
Opinion surveys we carry out at the end of communication campaigns tell us that the population is very sensitive in the area of recycling. In fact, recent polls show that the Catalans give importance of 8 out of 10 to recycle the waste at home. These data then do not agree with the statistics of recycling, which are located at 34.4% of the waste, but they are still positive data, as selective collection in Catalonia is consolidated and increases year after year.
What initiatives promotes the Agency in this regard?
We carry out wide-reaching communication campaigns to raise awareness of the importance of correct management of waste, with the accent on habits that we incorporate into our day to day in this area. Thus, at the end of last year conducted a campaign on the selective collection of organic matter, which was a widely accepted, and in the coming months will be launching another emphasizing prevention and separate the different waste collection.
And how they interact with the local authorities?
We work closely with them, since they are responsible for the collection and management of municipal waste. In addition, we support those who are holders of waste treatment facilities so that they have tour for visits, environmental classroom and other resources to show the public how important and necessary that is the gesture of Recycle at home.
