PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Amidst concerns about environmental issues in the European Union Member States, the Metropolitan Madrid area (Comunidad de Madrid) has developed an ambitious Waste Management Plan. This plan was designed to lay the foundations for a programme of recovery and classification of solid urban waste. This gave rise to the need for a special office capable of fostering the demand for products made from recycled materials as well as disseminating information to involved agencies and organisations. Over the first 10 months of this year, in the city of Madrid 11 233 880 kg of recyclable waste reached the sorting plant, and it was possible to recover just over 25 percent. Two more plants are scheduled to start operating next year (2000), and should collect about 50 000 tonnes of waste.
OBJECTIVES
The main objective of the project was to set up an office (called Centro del Producto Reciclado: CPR) to increase measurably the use of recycled products in the Comunidad de Madrid by encouraging existing companies to use more recycled goods and by supporting the creation of new processing companies. The project also aimed to bring about changes in citizens’ attitudes and behaviour through information, training and awareness-raising campaigns in universities, schools, associations and trade bodies. The whole philosophy of the office was based on the idea of keeping socio-economic groups and the general public informed about the advantages, both environmental and economic, of the use of recycled products. The office aimed to be the point of contact and meeting-place for the various socio-economic agents in the recycling market, thus facilitating a greater level of collaboration between them. In particular this project intended to reach the following targets: - To increase waste recycling in the Comunidad de Madrid. - To create a favourable climate so as to increase the consumption of recycled products. - To provide training and information - To create new job prospects. New applications and markets are expected to be found for the increased volumes of recycled products that the Comunidad de Madrid expects will be produced over the coming years.
RESULTS
During the project, the following activities were carried out successfully: - Completion of market research on the recycling sector and on use of recycled products in the Comunidad de Madrid - Creation of a database - Preparation of an inventory of the current recycling situation - Setting up of the Recycled Product Centre office (Centro del Producto Reciclado: CPR) - Maintenance and updating of the database. - Design and publication of a web page - Attendance at forums and congresses - Organisation of an international forum on recycling - Publicity and promotion of the office - Dissemination and awareness-raising activities The first part of the project involved the setting up of the Recycling Promotion Center (CPR) office. The office was structured with different departments specialised in different activity areas: Department of applied research: This department was in charge of collecting and compiling general information on recycling technologies as well as information relevant to the incorporation of various recycled materials in production processes, and ways of using and selling the resulting products. This department was also responsible for studying changes in legislation and new regulations and finding out how the sector is structured in countries with advanced systems of environmental protection. Information department: During the project, a website was created and a database was set up on recovery of urban waste, dangerous waste management and workshops for artists and artisans using recycled products. The main activity of this department was maintaining the database and keeping the website up-to-date. During 2001, books, journals and other documents on recycling and waste management were acquired for the library. During the project, technical consulting services for professionals were offered, and the inquiry service at CPR received numerous requests for information via fax, telephone and e-mail, and visitors coming to the office. Sales and marketing department: Its objective was to establish a market base through the creation of new lines of communication and commercial relationships with socio-economic groups. Its activities included: personal visits to socio-economic agents, contacts with companies using recycled products and with artisans creating artistic objects from recycled material. The facilities available at the office allowed them to exhibit these objects periodically. Another important activity was the attendance at and/or participation in the organisation of forums, congresses, meetings and other events that offered the chance to establish contacts with the agents in the market. As an example, the CPR had a stand in the National Congress on Environment that took place in Madrid (2000). At the Madrid Science Fair (May 2001) the CPR organised a stand displaying product samples and recycled art. The International Forum of Recycling was organised by the CPR in Madrid, in 1999 and 2001. Dissemination of information and awareness-raising was another function that the department carried out, here are some examples of the activities performed: - Publication of the Environment-related Website Directory (400 websites). - Publication of the CD-ROM of the Second International Recycling Forum. - Publication of the CD-ROM of the events on waste management organised by the CPR. - Recycling Workshops at the CPR for young children (2000-2002; 8000 children). - Updating the Waste Management Handbook (Manual de Gestión de Residuos), (2002, 4000 issues produced) During 2001, guided visits to CPR were organised for students and lecturers of courses specialising in environmental matters; for professionals, business associations and consumer associations. In addition, the office carried out continuous training activities and awareness raising campaigns through agreements with universities, schools, and professional associations. The creation and running of CPR proved to be a very valuable tool for achieving better management and use of urban waste in Madrid, and was shown to be useful for providing information and technical support on recycling matters. The Madrid Regional Government demonstrated its interest and made the commitment that CPR would remain open after the LIFE project concluded. The jobs created should therefore be maintained, and indirect jobs may be created through the activities promoted by the Centre. Regarding the transferability of the project, Gedesma participated directly in the implementation of a similar center at Palma de Mallorca (Baleares Islands). Gedesma is also developing an agreement with the government of Galicia, in order to create a CPR in this region. The government of Ceuta (autonomous city in northern Africa) is also interested. Finally, Gedesma, the Instituto Cerdà (research center in Catalonia), and the Environment Department of the government of Catalonia, are currently discussing the creation of a network of re-cycling centres.
