Por Redaccion 
The new edition of this Aspapel program recognizes the Local Council for its excellence in managing selective collection
Communication campaigns aimed at mobilizing citizens and merchants with commercial collection, with two daily programs and quality control procedures, were essential
Juan Miguel Bayonas, Mayor of Urban Quality: «We reviewed the award won last year and added four consecutive editions, exceeding the organization’s requested indicators and developing a continuous improvement plan»
May 29, 2025. The Blue Pijaritas Al Aspapel program, recognized in its ninth edition for excellence in managing selective collection for paper and cardboard recycling in the city of Lorca – Limusa, received the highest prize by earning three blue birds. The review of last year’s award and the addition of four consecutive editions that met the requested indicators and developed a continuous improvement plan.
Urban Quality Councilor Juan Miguel Bayonas and Industrial Services Antonio David Sánchez, highlighted the city of Lorca, which maintained the three blue ribbons for «its quality controls and proper application of measures» at the award ceremony.
The awards are based on an annual evaluation of 21 key indicators including efficiency in blue container collection, additional collections in awareness campaigns, quality of collected material, and regulatory planning. As the program raises its standards year after year, participating entities are required to implement new actions to maintain or move up the category.
In the case of the Lorca Municipal Council, the award of three blue birds is based on a score of 77 out of 100 and exceeding 5 critical indicators out of the required 5. These standards are divided into five blocks auditing the blue container collection service provided by Limusa, additional collections, citizen information and awareness, as detailed in the Paper-Cardboard Municipal Collection evaluation report.
In this edition, the program focused on two key aspects: communication campaigns to mobilize citizens and merchants to place paper and cardboard in blue containers or other activated collection systems, always folded and without other waste, as it is free in Lorca with two daily established commercial door programs; and quality control procedures, now requiring periodic measurements and a more thorough methodology to ensure effective inspection, emphasizing our municipality for the low index detected in the samples taken.
At a national level, 49 local entities (towns and municipalities) from 15 autonomous communities were recognized for their excellence in managing selective paper and cardboard recycling collections, serving 14 million inhabitants. Of the winning local entities, 25 were awarded the special «Illustrious Blue Pajarita» prize for entities that achieve three blue ribbons for more than five consecutive years, already having two; 16 achieved three blue ribbons; Four achieved two; and four received one.
The institutional ceremony was led by Marta Gómez Palenque, Director General of Quality and Environment Assessment at the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge; Jordi Aguiló, President of Aspapel; and Manuel Fernández, President of Reparation. One of the main news of this edition is the incorporation of the Spanish Association of Paper and Cardboard Recyclers into the Blue Pajaritas program. This partnership with Aspapel strengthens the value chain collaboration to continue promoting the quality of paper and cardboard selective collection.
During the event, the #Recycycicla campaign video was shown, paying tribute to the iconic blue container 25 years after its anniversary. With messages like «Don’t make ghosts for the blue container,» the campaign encourages citizens to recycle better. It is reminded that only paper and cardboard should be deposited in the blue container, avoiding other waste like glass, batteries, toys, clothes, or diapers. The importance of folding boxes before inserting them in the blue container and avoiding placing them on public pathways is also emphasized.