From November 19 to 27, the Regional Government of the Azores, through the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and the Sea, is organising the Waste Week 2011 throughout the archipelago with the purpose of mobilising and reminding the Azorean population of the common responsibilities in proper waste management in the Region.

The Natural Parks of each island, through their "Ecotecas" (Environmental Awareness Raising Centres), will attempt to involve the local community in fostering and sharing actions for the community, being this programme the result of that effort.

These initiatives will also count on the participation of several local partners as promoters of the activities and as target audience: local authorities, schools, NGOs, village councils, waste operators, among others.

Nearly 50 activities are taking place under this initiative, including recreational and educational activities for children, workshops for adults, information sessions open to the public in general, distribution of leaflets by post and email, visits to waste processing plants and the delivery of the "Eco-Freguesia - Freguesia limpa" (Eco-Village - Clean Village) prizes.

The Azores Waste Week is another environmental education and awareness raising initiative integrated in a specific plan that has been outlined for the Region 12 years ago, designated as Regional Plan for Environmental Education and Awareness Raising.

This initiative aims to implement and evaluate a regional environmental education and awareness raising strategy, based on the integration of various public and private partners in the optimisation of efforts, training and sharing of information and resources.

The Plan is available for consultation at the website http://parquesnaturais.azores.gov.pt/ in the section Educating for the Environment. It will play an important role in the creation regional strategy for this area, being simultaneously a motto and a tool for the environmental sustainability of the Azores.

The programme of the Azores Waste Week may be consulted at the following website http://residuos.sram.azores.gov.pt/ as well as other contents on this subject, adapted to the regional context.