by Lorena Avila Cantisani
Press correspondent in Spain
Waste has become a source of wealth which has a high priority in Europe. Companies profit from recycling, and they periodically compete for garbage collection before local governments. They receive financial support from European economic funds for the collection of urban or industrial garbage, and they are also granted a subsidy by the Ministry of Industry and Research for the automation of the recycling process.
In many cases, it is the government who gives the companies proper containers, and sometimes the companies themselves buy the containers if the business is profitable enough.
Underground containers can store more garbage and take up less space
Containers are arranged so that they can be filled and emptied as much as possible. Garbage is collected in special trucks. Waste is classified as a) plastic, cans and tetra-packs, b) paper and cardboard, c) glass, and d) organic matter, and they are collected separately. Organic garbage, such as pigs urine or remains of olive pressing, are later used to produce bio-fuel, natural fertilizers, etc. Industrial garbage is also classified and collected separately.
Citizens are the ones who play the most important part in this process, since waste classification is done by them first, and it is their responsibility to put each type of waste in the correct container.
Europe is certainly a step ahead in this issue, and we should learn from their experience. I’ll tell you more in coming issues...
Greetings from Valencia, Spain.
