Elaine Evans, the spokesperson for ‘The Neighbours of the Factory’ shared that “This has been a long battle that ‘The Neighbours of the Factory’ have contested with Amorim for many years. They have now been promised, in the recent quarterly meeting that the noise levels are being tested to comply with the EU guidelines and the smoke pollution will stop by 1st July 2025. ‘The Neighbours’ will wait and see!”.

The meeting took place at the Municipality of Silves and was attended by Councilor Maxime Sousa Bispo and representatives of CCDR-Algarve, the Pestana group, the Residents' Committee of the 'Fábrica dos Vizinhos' and Amorim Cork Insulation (ACI).

We were pleased to have the presence and participation of the Vice-President of CCDR-Algarve, Architect José Pacheco, and the CEO of Amorim Cork Solutions (ACS), Dr João Pedro Azevedo.

We were also informed by Amorim Cork Solutions (ACS) of the conclusion of the noise reduction work, based on recent acoustic measurements. According to Dr João Pedro Azevedo, the objective of complying with the legal limits defined in the General Noise Regulation and causing as little disturbance as possible will have been achieved, and they will be officially informing the Municipality of Silves of this very soon.

In view of this information, the Residents' Committee “Vizinhos da Fábrica” will carry out its measurements and acoustic tests in March and April, to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the measures implemented so far. The Municipality of Silves will also carry out counter-testing of the elements that Amorim Cork Solutions (ACS) will make officially available.

Amorim Cork Solutions (ACS) has also informed us of two different technical solutions for reducing smoke and odours and is currently in the process of deciding whether to purchase one or both of these solutions, with a view to building the RTO, with performance guarantees.

Amorim Cork Solutions (ACS) reconfirmed its commitment to no longer emit smoke or odours into the atmosphere from 1 July 2025.

Finally, with regard to the dust and ash polluting the properties of the neighbouring population, Amorim Cork Solutions (ACS) will endeavour to implement corrective measures, based on studies that are already being carried out and which will involve relevant decision-making, which is also underway.

The next follow-up meeting, to be held on 5 May 2025 at 3pm, should bring news on the status of all the procedures for correcting environmental anomalies that are underway.

We would all like to thank the permanent municipal executive of Silves Town Council for their support and commitment in carrying out this participatory process, which aims to correct the environmental anomalies of the Corticeira Amorim factory in Vale da Lama, Silves, with the consequent reduction in pollution caused by its operation, and to improve the relationship between Amorim Cork Insulation (ACS) and the neighbouring population, contributing to a more integrated and participatory community in resolving matters of public interest in the environmental field.

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