Benidorm maintains its commitment to sustainability and recycling, still in a pandemic

Although the pandemic has had a significant impact in the occupancy figures, with a deep-rooted commitment in the population, Benidorm has maintained its constant of sustainability and has continued to efficiently consume and recycle glass, paper and cardboard, clothing and batteries.

2020 has been below the usual figures for Benidorm, which has meant a reduction in the absolute numbers of consumption and recycling.

Regarding water consumption, the data reflects an annual drop of 29% compared to the previous year. From 10.2 million cubic meters in 2019, we have gone to 7.3 million in 2020. A main issue, Councilor José Ramón González De Zárate pointed out, is that “the comparison of January 2021 with January 2020, which still we were not affected by the pandemic, it reflects a decrease in the general line of the year ”.

Regarding solid urban waste, the data indicate a significant decline. Compared to 57,100 tonnes in 2019, 40% less was collected in 2020, to 34,500 tonnes.

Both in garbage production and in water consumption in 2020, the councilor highlighted “it is found that February was a month of growth, in line with the forecasts that were being handled. On the contrary, already affected by the restrictions of the pandemic, April and May have been the months with the lowest figures-

In detail, he highlighted that in the first quarter of 2020, in the month of March especially, "with the state of alarm, the reduction in solid waste production began to be perceived", with a second quarter with figures below half compared to the year previous. The months of July, August and September recorded the very slight recovery of tourist occupancy and the fourth quarter reflected the situation, returning to 50% of the year 2019. As a whole, of the year, production has been 60% of that of the year previous. The balance of water consumption has been in the same line.

According to the councilor José Ramón González "these figures show that tourism, in a normal situation, generates 50% of water consumption and waste production of the total, exceeding the normal data." De Zárate pointed out that "among the residents we now have more population."

Benidorm, he insisted, "is very atypical" and this unusual characteristic is reflected in the ratios. Thus, "the real ratio of Benidorm should be set at just over 400 kilos per inhabitant per year". This amount is below the Spanish average / 476 kg / person / year) and the EU average (502 kg / person / year), with Eurostat data. And this figure for Benidorm, highlighted De Zárate, "shows the commitment to recycling and sustainability that is a common constant in the population of Benidorm".

For her part, the Councilor for the Environment, Mónica Gómez, pointed out “Benidorm's environmental commitment that in the midst of a health crisis has continued to maintain the habit and go to the clean point ecopark of Foia del Ca and the mobile ecopark that moves by neighborhoods "

With a net reduction in the activity of the hotel industry, said the councilor Gómez, “Benidorm has been able to collect 1,751 tons of glass; quantity far from the 2019 record of 3,821 tons, but which highlights, "citizen responsibility."

In this sense of responsibility and commitment, even with a situation of confinement and restrictions, the councilor pointed out that “Benidorm has continued to take batteries to the mupis on public roads and other collection points, taking paper and cardboard to the blue containers; plastics, cans and bricks to the yellow; glass to the greens and also clothes ”.

And in terms of absolute figures, the reduction that 2020 has brought to all segments has also reached the use of recycled water, whose consumption only represented a decrease of 8% compared to the previous year.