DEMOLITION WASTE MANAGEMENT IN MAJORCA: THE PARTICULAR CASE OF AN ISLAND

摘要

Majorca is the main island of the Balearic Islands, located in the south east of Spain. More than ten million people visit Majorca every year, resulting in a high pressure on the ecosystem. Construction industry has caused a constant increment in construction and demolition waste (CDW) generation. According to the preliminary estimations included in the new plan that will regulate CDW management in Majorca, the generation of CDW in Majorca is remarkably higher than the ones calculated for Alcala de Henares and Valencia. The non-existence of adequate management channels, and the insufficient inspection, has originated an unsustainable situation of improvisation. Majorca's fragility in terms of space limits and tourism environmental perception makes essential some changes in the way this kind of waste is being managed. The implementation of the new plan that regulates CDW management involves its declaration as a public service under the "polluter's pay principle". This step will be an important milestone in the path of achieving an appropriate CDW management in Majorca. The Plan sets for 2005 a valorisation objective of 70%, 15% aimed at recycling. A new research line focused on the analysis of CDW valorisation feasibility in Majorca, has been launched at the UIB.