Andorra's National Circular Economy Strategy (ENEC) is making its way. The document, which is the principality's roadmap that hangs from the Circular Economy law, was presented last week by the Minister for the Environment, Agriculture and Sustainability, Sílvia Calvó, and by the director of the Department of the Environment, Sílvia Ferrer. The objective is to give a definitive impulse to the objectives established in the law and that the Ministry directed by Calvó intends to apply.
With the ENEC, "we establish the strategy and the necessary mechanisms to achieve the objectives set by law, which are essential to move towards the new economic model, which advocates responsible consumption, the reduction of waste generation, economic savings and the reduction of food waste”, said Sílvia Calvó. The document presented has a horizon of 2035 and is expected to be reviewed every five years to adapt it to each moment. The desire is that the ENEC measures connect with those that Andorra already has in place in favor of the circular economy and that the sum of efforts leads to an improvement in the economy thanks to the promotion of savings and the creation of new jobs. worked.
The Circular Economy law establishes five major objectives: an increase in recycling to 65% in 2035, a 15% reduction in the generation of urban waste in the same year, water consumption below 150 liters per person and day, a 50% reduction in food waste and, finally, an increase of up to 25% of companies that work in circular economy schemes.
To achieve these objectives, the approved document consists of six strategic axes that develop 21 action programs, with specific actions. The six axes are sustainable consumption, production systems, national waste plan, social transition, exemplary role of the Administration and, finally, governance and monitoring.
In this way, the document provides, among many other actions, to expand the list of prohibited single-use plastics, ban single-use plastic bags and establish a plan to reduce single-use plastic products with no alternative. With regard to measures to avoid food waste, the strategy designed establishes the need to implement a prevention plan and define a methodology for calculating what food waste represents in Andorra and to prepare an annual inventory.
Another important focus of action revolves around water consumption. The document plans to draft and approve a new water law to promote the principles of the circular economy in matters of water reuse and the increase in its efficient use in all sectors and throughout the entire network, from collection to discharge. end point of consumption. Regarding waste generation, the strategy is linked to the precepts included in the National Waste Plan (PNR).
Another aspect that will continue will be the promotion of local organic production, local sales, short circuits and improving the marketing of local and organic local (kilometre zero) and seasonal products. There will also be actions to promote monitoring and control of the strategy, and the dissemination of good practices and public awareness, as well as promoting the exemplary role of the Administration.
