Manresa has become the first large city in Catalonia to implement a garbage collection system using smart containers for all residents. The initiative adds to the range of door-to-door delivery that has been implemented in all shops in the city since December.
Manresa decided to bet on this new recycling model given the stagnation it experienced in terms of recycling data. This percentage now stands at 45%, which is lower than the 55% that will be required from Europe in 2025, and the 65% that will be required in 2035. With this model, it is intended to double this percentage.
How will it work? There will be locked containers that can only be opened with cards provided by the city council. Organics and packaging containers can be opened as many times as needed, while the waste container can only be opened once a week. The city’s mayor, Mark Alloway, has made it clear that this change is necessary and that its success requires the commitment of all city residents:
The hybrid selective collection model implemented in the city is the result of a participatory process developed between February and March 2020, according to which 80% of participants agreed to implement smart containers for homes.
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