On World Environment Day, the organisation highlights the importance of adopting measures for efficient waste management and environmental protection
The Ibiza Sustainability Observatory, a project of the environmental foundation IbizaPreservation, funded by the Consell Insular d’Eivissa, is issuing an urgent call to improve waste management on the island and extend the landfill’s lifespan as much as possible.
In observance of World Environment Day, celebrated on June 5th, the Observatory emphasised that, based on data from the Ca Na Putxa Environmental Department for 2022 and 2023, the island is not reducing the volume of waste entering the landfill at the desired rate. A 10% annual reduction in waste volume was necessary for the landfill to last until 2031.
According to data from the Consell featured in the upcoming 2023 Ibiza Sustainability Report, the Ca Na Putxa landfill received 92,596 tons of waste in 2023. This marks a 7.8% reduction from the 100,440 tons recorded in 2022. However, this figure falls 2.2 percentage points short of the reduction targets required to meet the desired lifespan for the landfill.
“If we do not improve these figures, and if the waste volume remains at this year’s levels, the landfill may only remain operational until 2028,” warned Itziar Arratibel, the Observatory’s coordinator. She also highlighted that “Ibiza is facing a significant environmental and social challenge, and both citizens and administrations must prioritise reduction, reuse, and recycling efforts, regardless of future strategies to manage the landfill’s end of life.”
The Sustainability Observatory also reviewed additional data from the Consell d’Eivissa and the Ca Na Putxa Environmental Department, showing that in 2023, the total amount of domestic waste collected on the island (excluding specific producers) was 114,518.72 tons, nearly identical to the 114,368.43 tons collected in 2022. Historical trends indicate a 17% increase in domestic waste generation over the past decade.
Moreover, waste characterisation by the Ca Na Putxa Environmental Department reveals that organic matter makes up 40.2% of the waste in the grey bin, followed by paper and cardboard (18.7%), packaging (5%), and glass (1.6%). “These figures show a significant opportunity to improve recycling rates and, consequently, reduce the amount of waste ending up in the landfill, especially in the area of organic waste,” reiterated Arratibel.
Selective collection of paper decreased by 0.9% compared to 2022, while glass collection fell by 1%. Conversely, packaging collection increased by 4.4%, and organic waste collection rose by 9.7%, surpassing 10,000 tons.
Municipal analysis
Municipal data for 2023 shows that all municipalities increased their selective waste collection, except Ibiza, which recorded a decrease of 278 tons, or 3% less than in 2022. Sant Joan saw a 63.42% rise in selective collection, driven by the introduction of organic waste collection, while Santa Eulària remained the only municipality not to implement domestic organic waste collection. Sant Josep led with the highest collection of separated fractions, at 36,750 kg per person per year, followed by Santa Eulària (22,880 kg), Sant Antoni (21,870 kg), and Sant Joan (21,150 kg). Ibiza had the lowest collection rate, with 17,230 kg per person.
In terms of monthly collection, August saw the highest volume of selectively collected waste, totalling 5,448.62 tons, while February recorded the lowest, with 1,417.60 tons. The seasonal variation was mainly evident in organic waste and glass, with 78.80% and 75.57% of the total annual collection occurring during the high season, respectively. Packaging and paper/cardboard showed more moderate increases, with 66.41% and 63.67% of their totals collected during the same period.
Finally, organic waste collection represented 40.24% of urban solid waste (RSU) in 2023, a “significant” figure, according to the Observatory. Four of the five municipalities have implemented organic waste collection: Ibiza, Sant Antoni, Sant Josep, and, recently, Sant Joan.
The IbizaPreservation Sustainability Observatory urges institutions to prioritise coherent, innovative, and urgent policies that contribute to real reductions in both consumption and waste generation. “Extending the landfill’s lifespan is a goal in itself, but we must remember that this moment in inevitable, and the challenge will be substantial, whether we choose to build an incinerator or transfer waste to Mallorca, our ultimate aim should be to achieve Zero Waste goals,” they concluded.
