Working on / Promoting recycling

Promoting recycling is one of ASPAPEL’s strategic objectives.

In 2002, ASPAPEL launched its ambitious project Tu Papel es Importante (Your Paper/your role is Important) to enhance the recovery and recycling of paper and cardboard at the municipal level.

Tu Papel es Importante is a program designed to contribute to sustainable development through continuous improvement of the paper and board recovery and recycling in Spain. The program promotes collection from blue bins and develops additional formulas in those municipal areas where the highest improvement margins have been identified: offices, schools, small retail outlets, hotels, etc.

In a first phase, pilot collection of paper and board were made from homes, small retails outlets and offices by exploring ways of adding to collection from blue bins. Relevant technical data was obtained about each collection system with information on each service of the parameters, associated costs and results in terms of number of kilos collected.

Since 2005 ASPAPEL has been working on distributing these experiments through a municipal action plan: Programa Tu Papel 21 (Program Your Paper 21). This Program Your Paper 21 initiative consists of a diagnosis system, the implementation of improvements and certification of municipal selective recovery systems for paper and board based on 21 indicators and supported by models of social participation and communication in line with the guidelines of the local Agenda 21.

Currently there are now 22 town councils and munipalities in Spain that have been certified and over 100 that are in the process of certification and implementing improvements. Additionally, a network with municipalities and companies has been created to exchange successful experiences, data and information on collection and recycling of paper and board. As result of these collaborations the quarterly bulletin Recycling Today is publised.

The program was awarded the European Paper Recycling Award, that recognizing the merit of innovative projects to promote paper recycling in Europe. The jury was composed by members of the European Parlament and European Commission, in addition to associations (Association of Cities and Regions for Recycling and Sustainable Resource Management, ACR+) and NGOs (WWF International). 

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www.tupapelesimportante.com