The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Environment stated in Horta that the environment is a "fundamental pillar" for the development of the Azores," being a common concern to several economic activities." In this context, the government official stressed the importance of investing in the development and implementation of policies aimed at environmental preservation, promotion and awareness policies as well as of policies in the areas of spatial planning, water resources and waste management.

Luís Neto Viveiros stressed that the sealing process of the dumps located on Flores, Graciosa and Corvo, which will continue in 2016 on the islands of Santa Maria, São Jorge, Faial and Pico, is "a subsequent phase of the construction of the Waste Processing Centres (CPR)."

"It should be noted that there were only two Waste Processing Centres in operation on Flores and Graciosa in the beginning of the current legislative period; nowadays there are six," said the Regional Secretary. The government official spoke to journalists, adding that the Santa Maria Waste Processing Centre will enter into operation soon, thereby concluding the regional network of these centres.

The Government of the Azores has allocated 3.3 million Euros for waste management in the proposed plan for next year.

According to the Strategic Waste Management Plan of the Azores, the Government built Waste Processing Centres on seven of the nine of the archipelago. The document is currently under legislative revision in order to reinforce the prevention component and establish new measures for the achievement of waste recovery goals.