Santa Brígida Launches First Community Composter in Gran Canaria
In an effort to promote sustainable waste management, Santa Brígida has become the first municipality in Gran Canaria to inaugurate a community composter. This initiative is part of the Insular Campaign for Domestic and Community Composting, which operates under the motto “The best waste is the waste that is not generated.” The project aims to manage organic waste in a sustainable manner across the island’s 21 municipalities.
Objectives of the Initiative
The community composter transforms organic waste into natural compost, enhancing soil fertility, providing essential nutrients, protecting plants against pests, and reducing reliance on chemical fertilizers. This initiative, known as Gran Canaria Composta, is driven by the Environment, Climate, Energy and Knowledge Department of the island’s government.
As indicated in a statement from the Cabildo, the project is part of a broader effort to encourage sustainable management of organic waste among the general population.
Community Involvement
In July, the selection process began in Santa Brígida for 30 resident families who will actively participate in this initiative. These families will become agents of change towards a more sustainable lifestyle, considering that each inhabitant generates an average of 1.46 kg of waste daily, with 42% of this being organic matter.
Support from Local Officials
Raúl García Brink, the Environment Councillor, visited the municipality on Tuesday and highlighted the progress made so far: “We have distributed over 730 domestic composters, installed more than 130 community composters in educational centres, and conducted 89 school workshops throughout the island. In Santa Brígida, we are providing specific training to the users and municipal technicians involved in this project.”
Additionally, he congratulated the local council, stating, “We applaud the Town Hall and their team for leading this initiative, bringing us closer to a more sustainable and circular Gran Canaria.”
Commitment to Sustainability
José Armengol, the Mayor of Santa Brígida, emphasised that this action reinforces the municipality’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals and the Comprehensive Waste Plan of the Canary Islands, which encourages local councils to develop composting projects. “Our goal is to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills and alleviate the economic costs borne by the municipality,” he added.
Maria Sánchez-Fernaud, the Councillor for Environment, noted, “This system demonstrates how waste can be transformed into a resource.” She concluded that it is an essential tool for advancing “towards a greener, self-sufficient, and resilient municipality.”
How to Get Involved
Individuals interested in joining this initiative can register via email at: [email protected].
