36 kg per inhabitant: Navarrese people set the standard for packaging separation

The people of Navarre are very aware of the importance of recycling. Last year they reached 36.1 kilograms of used packaging per inhabitant. Their collective action enabled them to recycle more than 21,600 tons of plastic, metal, briks, paper and cardboard materials, which translates into a 3.1% increase over the previous year.
The circular economy is becoming stronger in Navarra, they are aware that recycling their packaging allows them to create new products such as clothing, urban furniture and pipes, among others, from recycled material.

Over 21,600 tons of all types of materials were sent to recyclers. Of these, 8,060 tons were destined for plastic packaging recycling, 11,270 tons for paper and cardboard, and 2,300 tons for metal packaging.

Of the total tons of packaging sent to recycling facilities, 20,835 tons came from packaging that citizens separated in the yellow and blue containers on the street and in the colored garbage cans installed in crowded areas such as airports, offices and bars and restaurants. The remaining amount was recovered from the residual fraction plant, where all types of unseparated waste arrive.

Fernando Blázquez, manager of Ecoembes in Navarre, pointed out that “an example of this are the 55 hostels that are part of the ‘Recycling Road’ to raise awareness among pilgrims of the importance of recycling and not leaving waste in the natural environment, the more than 360 garbage cans installed in schools, public buildings, stores and offices throughout 2022 or the distribution of more than 20,400 yellow bags that we made to establishments in the old town of Pamplona to separate their packaging during the San Fermin festivities.”

“Throughout 2022 we have continued to promote our incentivized recycling project RECICLOS, to encourage the recycling of cans and plastic beverage bottles, reaching 43,200 citizens of Peralta and Tudela”. Blázquez added.

Ecoembes is currently working in Spain to get people to participate more actively in recycling everything from plastics to cans and briks. Thanks to this, 80% of Spanish households say they are recycling their packaging and containers through the yellow and blue garbage cans. All of this operates according to the regulations of Law 7/2022 and Royal Decree 1055/2022 on a not-for-profit basis.