Part of Ibiza Preservation’s work has to do with environmental awareness. Within this framework, for example, this year the children’s show ‘The Magic of Recycling’, which promotes recycling awareness, will expand for the first time from Ibiza to the rest of the Balearic Islands. Although initiatives of this kind have helped to make important steps in raising awareness, especially among young people, this is still far from translating into profound impacts, considers Inma Saranova, director of IbizaPreservation. How do you analyze the degree of awareness in the Pitiusas Islands in relation to sustainability and environmental care?
-We haveseen significant advances in environmental awareness in recent years, especially among the youngest. However, there is still a big gap between concern and real action.
-What areas are you concerned about?
-We are particularly concerned about the overexploitation of natural resources, the impact of the increase in tourism numbers on the natural environment and the water crisis affecting Ibiza and Formentera. There is also a deficit in waste management. In addition, the state of the Posidonia meadows is very worrying as well as the very low penetration of renewable energies in the territory of Ibiza. In what areas do the local inhabitants still not understand the problems?
-Oneof the most difficult issues to convey is the relationship between water use and sustainability. Many people are not fully aware that Ibiza and Formentera are facing a water crisis and that a change in water management and consumption is necessary. We also have a problem when it comes to reaching the figures needed to comply in terms of waste generation. People are more or less aware of recycling, but we must stress the need to reduce waste, especially food waste, which is an area where there is much to do as shown by the amount of organic waste that ends up in the container.
-How far has awareness of sustainability and environmental issues penetrated the tourism sector?
-More and more hotels and tourism companies are incorporating sustainable practices, but there is still a long way to go. Although there is progress in the elimination of single-use plastics and in waste management, a structural transformation in the tourism model has not yet been achieved. The new circularity and waste regulations help, but there is a lack of information on how to implement them.
-Do you think there has been a greater awareness of endangered species and the importance of preserving them?
-Yes, but there is still work to be done. The pitiusa lizard, for example, is still endangered and many people are not aware of the magnitude of the problem.
Recycling
-How has recycling progressed in Ibiza in recent years?
-We have improved in selective collection, but the percentage of recycled waste is still low. The Sustainability Observatory analyzed data obtained from the Consell de Ibiza and the Environmental Area of Ca Na Putxa, among which highlights that, in 2023, organic matter constituted 40.2% of waste, followed by paper and cardboard (18.7%), packaging (5%) and glass (1.6%), percentages that indicate that the room for improvement in the volume of recycling is very considerable and that, therefore, reduce what finally reaches the landfill as well.
-What is the most immediate thing to work on in the field?
-We need to encourage more reuse, in addition to raising awareness of waste reduction at source. A decrease in waste volume of 10% per year is necessary for the landfill to reach 2031, a figure that was not met in 2023, when the landfill received 92,596 tons, reaching a reduction of 7.8% with respect to 2022, when 100,440 tons were collected. If we do not increase these percentages, in a scenario in which the volume of waste is similar to this year, the landfill would only be operational until 2028.
