Tenerife School Undergoes €400,000 Renovation to Remove Asbestos
The Puerto de la Cruz City Council has launched a 400,000-euro renovation project to remove hazardous asbestos from the CEIP César Manrique school as part of a broader municipal strategy to eliminate the material from all local public buildings.
Tenerife is stepping up efforts to remove hazardous materials from its schools. The Puerto de la Cruz City Council has launched a major renovation project at the CEIP César Manrique school to eliminate fiber cement from its facilities. The project, with a budget of nearly 400,000 euros, focuses on replacing the 3,400-square-meter roof of the school cafeteria.
This work is a key part of the council’s public health strategy. Asbestos, which was banned in Spain in 2002 due to its link to serious lung diseases, requires careful handling. As the material ages, it can release microscopic particles into the air, posing a potential health risk to students and staff.
The council is working closely with the Canary Islands Ministry of Education to ensure the project meets modern safety and sustainability standards. This initiative is part of a broader municipal strategy to identify and remove asbestos from all local buildings. Puerto de la Cruz is the first municipality in the Canary Islands to complete a comprehensive census of buildings containing this material, allowing officials to prioritize repairs based on risk levels.
David Hernández, First Deputy Mayor and head of Sustainable City, stated that the government’s goal is to remove all asbestos from schools and other municipal buildings. He noted that while creating the census was a complex technical task, it is essential for ensuring public safety. Through this project, the city is fulfilling its environmental commitments and working to protect the community from exposure to dangerous materials.