The reconstruction and set-up of Vaersa plant, burned in 2009, enters its final stretch

The facility will create up to 41 new jobs after an investment of 5 million euros

The mayor of Benidorm, Toni Pérez and Councilor for the Environment, José Ramón González de Zárate, accompanied by the regional secretary of the Environment, Julià Álvaro, paid a visit this morning to the facilities of the reclassification plant for light packaging Manages the public company Vaersa (Valenciana de Aprovechamiento Energético de Residuos SA). During the tour have also been present the mayor of Compromis-The Greens, Josep Bigorra and municipal technical staff and the Department of Agriculture, Environment, Climate Change and Rural Development.

The plant suffered a fire in January 2009 and had to divert its production to other facilities in the Comunitat. Today, Toni Pérez has announced the realization of "an important investment" so that the reconstruction works will enter its last phase which will allow that in 2019 can be "treated in Benidorm light containers" with the implementation of the new facilities. The mayor has emphasized that Benidorm is a model city, "a citizenship committed, sensitized and conscientious" with the environment and has put as an example the recycling of glass in which "we exceed by three the number of kilos per person collected" with respect to the National average. With the start of the plant, stressed Toni Pérez "we will be able to give the best answer" also "with light packaging".

Investment and jobs

Julià Álvaro pointed out that the works are "in a very advanced phase" in terms of civil works and that only remains to "top the equipment and machinery." In this regard, it has indicated that the necessary administrative procedures have already been carried out in order to have "the necessary investment" and that this will be materialized in a loan through the IVF (Valencian Institute of Finance). Regarding the quantities, it will be necessary approximately one million euros for civil works and engineering and four more for equipment. The regional secretary of Environment, estimates that the administrative procedures can be completed in three months to which another 18 would have to be added until the installation

The new plant in Benidorm will be able to process up to seven tonnes per hour, which means the recycling of 20,000 per year and will be the first in production of all Vaersa has in the Region of Valencia. The installation will allow the dependencies of Alzira and Picassent (which had to assume their production after the fire) decongest a large part of their current workload. Likewise, it will be possible to reach the objectives set by Ecoembes, the non-profit company that collaborates with the autonomous communities and municipalities in the selective collection of packaging, which estimates that in the Region of Valencia will be 44,686 tonnes in 2018, 48,962 in 2019, 54,392 in 2020 and 59,220 in 2021.

The entry into operation of the plant involves the initial creation of 22 jobs that would reach 41 until the start of the second shift.

Environmental Benefits

The Benidorm plant will allow compliance with the principle of self-sufficiency and proximity, fundamental in the European Union's waste guidelines. Reducing the distance to be traveled in transport means less pollutant emissions, fossil fuel consumption and logistical costs. In addition, it is planned to offer training and awareness programs to the public through the construction of an ecological classroom on the premises.