The Cabildo of Lanzarote has now asked the Arrecife City Council for "authorization to open" a Recycling Center that, in reality, has been operating for years in Maneje. In fact, it is the only Recycling Center enabled in the capital of the island, of the four that Lanzarote currently has.
The announcement of this license application was published this Monday in the Official Gazette of the Province of Las Palmas, to "comply" with the Law on Classified Activities, Public Shows and other Complementary measures. In this way, the City Council gives 20 business days for "those who may be affected, to formulate the corresponding allegations in writing".
However, the truth is that this Recycling Center has been in operation for more than five years. In fact, [the Cabildo's own website->http://www.cabildodelanzarote.com/tema.asp?sec=Gesti%F3n%20insular%20de%20residuos&idTema=175&idCont=1424] refers to this space, located on Avenida de los Geranios in Maneje, to deposit certain household waste, such as furniture, appliances and electrical appliances.
There are currently three other recycling centers operating on the island. One is in Playa Honda, in the industrial area, another in Playa Blanca, next to the treatment plant, and the last in Puerto del Carmen.
More than five years open
Although it has now come to light that it does not have an opening license, the Maneje Recycling Center has been operating for more than five years. The work was carried out by the Government of the Canary Islands, although the management of this space depends directly on the Cabildo.
During these years, there have been several institutional visits to this recycling center. The last one just a few weeks ago, after the signing of an agreement between the Cabildo and a waste management company, and the first [in February 2007, when officials from the Canary Islands Government visited the facilities->10801], after its launch.
From the Arrecife City Council they have indicated to La Voz that the Cabildo had already requested the opening license "some time ago", although the procedure was not completed and has now been initiated again, adhering "to a new law". In any case, they refer to the Cabildo to give the details of what happened, although it has not given explanations so far.
The recycling center has a constructed area of 3,000 square meters, and 26 containers were installed for rubble, glass, cans, batteries, accumulators, oils, minerals, paper, cardboard, PVC and solid medicines.
