Technical and environmental criteria come together with the 2008/98/CE Waste Framework Directive of the European Parliament and Council, dated November 2008, on waste management and treatment. This directive establishes action lines based on the reduction, reuse, recycling, energy recovery and disposal in landfills of waste, following this hierarchical order.

The public plays a very important role in this legal hierarchy, because it is necessary for the consumption habits of society to be in communion with these three main areas: reducing, reusing and recycling.

The Maresme area has consolidated the trend started in the past few years with regard to waste, increasing the percentage of waste collected separately. Thus, citizens have understood the importance of recycling waste. In 2018, 45.30% of the waste generated in the area was collected separately, a percentage that is high above the Catalan average, which is 41.80%.

A total amount of 3,977,571 tonnes of municipal waste was generated in Catalunya in 2018. From this amount, 1,661,077 tonnes –41.80%– was collected separately, the rest of the amount making up the mixed waste fraction (2,316,494 tonnes), 206,168 tonnes –8.90%– was recovered as energy, 498,046 tonnes –21.50%– was destined to controlled disposal, and 1,612,280 tonnes –69.60%– to treatment for recovery.

The resulting individual waste generation ratio was of 1.43 kg/inhab/day.

MARESME(MEMBERS OF THE CONSORTIUM)

Description: coastal area located north of the city of Barcelona. It includes 30 towns.

Population: 427,296 inhabitants.

Capital city: Mataró, 126,988 inhabitants.

Economy: textile, food, chemical and tourism.

Total amount of municipal waste in 2018: 243,194 tonnes.

Yearly generation mean: 569 Kg/inhab/year.

Coefficient of waste generation (population recorded in census): 1.56 kg/inhab/day.

Separate waste collection in 2018:

Glass: 11,160 tonnes

Paper and cardboard: 10,703 tonnes

Light packaging: 9,245 tonnes

Organic fraction + autocomposting: 31,813 tonnes

Bulky waste: 23,139 tonnes

Garden waste: 9,045 tonnes

Others collections: 15,066 tonnes

Total separate waste: 45.30%