49 cabecera SIGAUS y la Economía Circular
SIGAUS reveals "its" Circular Economy
SIGAUS has been the host at an event that has highlighted the paradigm of Circular Economy and that brought to Pozuelo de Alarcón representatives from lubricant manufacturers, Public Administrations, used oil management companies, communication media and other agents. SIGAUS' work for the issue of a highly contaminating waste that is generated in a very atomized manner throughout the country, as well as the new regulations regarding waste, have been some of the topics addressed at the event.
14-06-2018
24 parrafo SIGAUS y la Economía Circular
The keynote presentation of the event was given by Eduardo de Lecea, Managing Director of SIGAUS, who summarized the 11 years that the Entity has been focusing on Circular Economy through the management of a toxic waste such as used industrial oil. De Lecea discussed how the generation of this waste in the country made management extremely difficult, as in the majority of Spain, numerous long journeys are needed to collect small quantities of used oil, which implies great logistical complexity that SIGAUS resolves through the funding that if offers to its network of 200 management facilities. To face this challenge, De Lecea mentioned three principles that will guide the actions by SIGAUS: universality, efficiency and control.
The Managing Director highlighted that "We cover collection throughout Spain, from the most extreme cardinal points to the centre of Madrid. In 2017 we had activity in towns that represent 98% of the population and 99% of the economic activity. We attended 69,000 collection points”, and regarding the cost of the system, he stated that “It's only 30 euro cent in the oil change for a car per year. A quantity that we fully use to ensure that the used oil will not contaminate. Over 11 years, we have invested €200 million in environmental protection".
On the other hand, De Lecea underlined that SIGAUS avails of an unprecedented statistical control, with a high quantity of geolocation information that can be used through various tools, such as the Used Oil Observatory.
To conclude, he referred to the good results obtained up to the present: “For the first time in history, we have been able to combine a collection of 100% with a regeneration treatment of 70%. Without a doubt, this achievement is due to all of your participation” (regarding the various groups represented in the audience, such as manufacturers, Administrations, managers and communication media.
32 SIGAUS y la Economía Circular
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For the first time in our history we have managed to combine a collection of 100% with a regeneration treatment of 70%. This achievement without doubt we have the participation of all of you.
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Various points of view, one single objective
The meeting was also attended by Javier Cachón de Mesa, General Director of Quality and Environmental Assessment and Natural Environment of the Ministry for Ecological Transition, and by Clara Eugenia García García, General Director of Research, Development and Innovation Policy of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities. Through their interventions, both provided the point of view of both ministries that are directly involved in the development of the Spanish Circular Economy Strategy, which aims to implement a multitude of measures in a wide scope of economic sectors and fields in Spain.
A debate table on "The example of the Circular Economy of industrial oils" was the final topic of the day. The participants included Adelaida Sacristán, Director of Studies at Fundación COTEC, Buenaventura González, CEO of SIGAUS and General Director of ENI Iberia, Aitor Jáuregui, General Director of Sertego, and Eduardo de Lecea, Managing Director of SIGAUS. At the debate, the various parties provided their point of view on how the waste management and environmental protection affects the imminent changes with the new legislative scenario, or how the prevention and use of new technologies are key elements to consolidate the progress of the circular economy.
The day also included the participation of figures from the area of communication, such as Luis Miguel Domínguez, naturist, environmental reporter and Director of the Natural History Office, who has participated in various television series about nature and who offered a talk where he discussed the importance of promotion and citizen involvement in order to raise awareness of environmental problems. The master of ceremonies was Jacob Petrus, the presenter of the television program focused on the environment, "Aquí la tierra".
The event could be followed live on social media through the hashtag #SIGAUScierraelcirculo, with a reach of 170,000 users. It also had its own website, www.sigausylaeconomiacircular.info, where in the coming days there will be access to the various audiovisual materials projected during the day, as well as a broad photographic report of the same.
