A Circular Economy With Social Impact in Tourism Waste Management

An initiative that combines recycling and employment for vulnerable groups in Mallorca

What does it consist of?

Reducing tourism waste and creating inclusive employment are the two goals of this plan in Mallorca. Funded with €700,000 from the public purse, it prioritises a social economy to turn waste into opportunities and support people in vulnerable situations.

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Data

PROJECT TITLE IN THE CALL
Boosting the social and circular economy. Sustainable management of tourist waste and the creation of jobs for people at risk of exclusion
LOCATION
Mallorca (Alcúdia, Marratxí, Muro, Santa Margalida)
Entity submitting the PROJECT
Govern de les Illes Balears
Entity that executes the project
Direcció General de Residus i Educació Ambiental
Project code
ITS2017-122
Total project amount
700.000 €
ITS granted amount
700.000 €
Executed amount
494.281 €
Call year
2017
Budget implementation status
Executed
Purpose
Environment
Budget execution
Executed: 70.61%
Last updated
14.04.2026

The project

The management of tourism waste is a major environmental challenge for the Balearic Islands. Added to this environmental strain is the social impact of an economic model based on tourism, which creates inequality and lack of job stability for certain groups. Against this background, the Balearic Environmental Council has launched an initiative that connects sustainability with social justice, funded through sustainable tourism tax.

The project has two goals: to make use of the waste generated by tourism through circular economy processes, and to create jobs for people at risk of social exclusion. The strategy is to support projects driven by reliable private entities with a social and environmental purpose, capable of long-term self-management.

The planned actions include tasks such as remanufacturing or customising reused products. This seeks not only to prevent waste, but also to offer alternative job opportunities for people with mental health problems or severe situations of marginalisation. This type of initiative is expected to create more than a hundred supervised job placements.

With a public budget of €700,000, the project responds to the EU’s strategy on waste and green jobs, while reinforcing the role of the social economy as a driver of change in the ecological transition.