The Balearics pollutes more than Europe

EACH person in the Balearic Islands produced an average of 1.6 kilogrammes of rubbish per day in 2008, slightly above the European average of 1.4 kilogrammes, reported the regional Ministry for the Environment yesterday.

Minister Miquel Angel Grimalt was presenting the study yesterday to mark European Rubbish Prevention Week. Grimalt claimed that figures for the Balearics are always “a little misleading” because the Islands have a floating population of some 11 million people as a result of the tourist industry. He added that greater encouragement needed to be given to the public on recycling and the use of long-life materials. Last year, 11'714 tonnes of plastic containers and tins were selectively collected, an average of 11.4 kilos per inhabitant per year (17.2 percent less than in 2007), a little above the Spanish average of 10.2 kilos. There were 16'358 tonnes of paper and cardboard amassed (16 kilos per person, 2.4 percent more than in 2007). Already, the 25'524 tonnes of glass have been collected so far this year has exceeded the 23'554 tonnes which was the total for the whole of 2008.