The councillor for Ecological Transition, Mariano Hernández Zapata, visited the facilities of the Ataretaco Foundation in Santa Cruz de Tenerife to learn about its textile reuse projects and used oil management.
The Ataretaco Foundation, based in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, closed 2024 with figures that establish it as a benchmark in circular economy and social-labour inclusion in the Canary Islands. According to the entity during the visit of the councillor for Ecological Transition and Energy, Mariano Hernández Zapata, last year it assisted 1,160 people and managed over 3,700 tonnes of waste.
The councillor toured the facilities accompanied by the Director General of Environmental Quality, Ángel Montañés, and the president of the Foundation, Pedro Armas, as well as other officials from the entity. During the tour, they were able to learn first-hand about two key initiatives: EcoinserREUSE Textil, focused on preparing textile waste for reuse, and the project "Separated oil, resource utilised," which promotes the proper management of domestic vegetable oil.
Hernández Zapata highlighted that "the circular economy represents an opportunity to advance towards a more sustainable development model, but also to generate employment, promote social inclusion, and give a second life to resources that would otherwise end up as waste." The councillor valued Ataretaco's work over four decades, integrating environmental protection with training and job placement for people in situations or at risk of social exclusion.
In the textile sector, the foundation showcased the complete process of receiving, classifying, preparing for reuse, and valuing the collected garments. This activity helps reduce waste generation, prolong the useful life of materials, and supports the training of individuals participating in social-labour integration pathways. The initiative "Separated oil, resource utilised," on the other hand, involves the educational community in the proper separation of used oil, preventing water and sewage contamination, and allowing it to be used as a new resource.
The Director General of Environmental Quality, Ángel Montañés, emphasised that these initiatives "fully align with the strategy promoted by the Government of the Canary Islands to encourage a more efficient use of resources, reduce waste generation, and advance towards a circular economy capable of generating environmental, economic, and social value."
For the residents of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and the rest of the Canary Islands, Ataretaco's work has a direct impact: the selective collection of textiles and used oil prevents these wastes from ending up in landfills or sewage systems, while generating jobs for vulnerable individuals. The foundation, which works in collaboration with public administrations and private entities, plans to expand its programmes in the coming years.
The Ataretaco Foundation has become an example of how waste management can go hand in hand with social inclusion. Since its inception, it has demonstrated that the reuse and valorisation of waste not only protect the environment but also create employment and training opportunities for those who need it most.
Councillor Hernández Zapata concluded his visit by stating that "entities like Ataretaco demonstrate that the transition to a more circular model can also be a fairer transition, where sustainability and opportunities for people advance hand in hand." The Department of Ecological Transition and Energy is now exploring new avenues of collaboration to continue promoting the circular economy in the Canary Islands.
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