The Vega Baja region’s recycling efforts remain below average, as reported by Ecoembes, the manager of the blue and yellow recycling bins. The municipalities within the Vega Baja Sostenible Consortium averaged only eleven point seven seven kilos of lightweight packaging recycled in twenty twenty four, which is four kilos less than the Alicante provincial average and nearly five kilos less than the regional average of sixteen kilos.

The situation is even more pronounced with paper and cardboard recycling, where residents contributed an average of eleven point seven eight kilos per person. This figure falls short of the Comunidad Valenciana average of seventeen point eight kilos and the provincial average of eighteen point one kilos. In light of these statistics, Francisco Cano, the president of the consortium, emphasised the urgent need for a treatment plant to improve waste separation practices.

Cano highlighted that without increased efforts to separate waste at the source, the region will struggle to meet European Union recycling targets. These insights were further substantiated by recent data from Ecoembes, making the case for swift action on the treatment plant’s location, suggested to be near the CV-95 in Orihuela.

The Consorcio also reiterated that proper waste separation is not just a regulatory requirement but essential for environmental protection. They stressed the importance of using the designated bins for lightweight packaging and paper to achieve current recycling goals and avoid sanctions. The call to action comes amid growing awareness of sustainability, urging residents to take part in improving recycling practices.