The European Union’s (EU) initiative to diminish waste in the forthcoming years is founded on a circular economy paradigm, where value and resources are preserved for the longest duration possible, and waste production is minimised. The objective is to alleviate environmental pressures, lessen greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce the ecological footprint. This concept fundamentally involves reusing, repairing, and optimising materials to prolong the product lifecycle and generate additional value, opposing the prevalent ‘use and discard’ mentality prevalent in today’s society.
The legal framework guiding this initiative is encapsulated in Law 7/2022, enacted on April 8, regarding waste and contaminated soils for a circular economy. Article 11 stipulates that…”local entities will establish, within three years from the enactment of this law, a fee or, where necessary, a specific non-tax public property benefit, distinct and non-deficit, enabling the implementation of pay-as-you-throw systems that accurately reflect the real costs—both direct and indirect—associated with waste collection, transportation, and treatment operations, including the oversight of these operations and the maintenance and monitoring post-landfill closure, awareness and communication campaigns, as well as revenues derived from expanded producer responsibility applied to the sale of materials and energy.” Starting April 2025, this legislation will necessitate that Spaniards bear a new waste charge mandated by the EU to cover these outlined expenses. Besides being an added burden for residents, its enactment poses significant challenges for local councils, which must navigate legal frameworks, revise their protocols, or amend their taxes, all while attempting to alleviate the financial impact on residents by, for instance, lowering other municipal charges.
Achieving the set goal will not be straightforward in the northern region of the island, where wasting management remains a significant challenge for both governing bodies. For instance, out of the 15 municipalities on the island, only three (Puerto de la Cruz, Los Realejos, and La Victoria de Acentejo as a pilot test) currently utilise brown bins or a fifth bin purposed for recycling biowaste—comprising organic waste produced in kitchens and gardens—available in various cities throughout the country that can be converted into energy or compost following a sorting process.
In Buenavista, the mayor, Eva García, has confirmed that plans are in place to implement this system at the start of next year, contingent upon the new tender, “though it remains uncertain whether it can be administered at an island-wide level.”
Similar plans are underway in El Tanque, Garachico, and Los Silos. Meanwhile, the municipalities forming the Commonwealth of the Northeast (Tacoronte, El Sauzal, La Matanza, La Victoria, and Santa Úrsula) aim to do so from the second quarter on, progressively prioritising those with the highest population and needs. Local administrations face an unknown challenge that breeds legal ambiguities and will have considerable implications for municipal finances, irrespective of the political affiliations of the governing bodies. Several local leaders have referred to the central government’s new imposed fee as a ‘taszo.’
Among them, Los Realejos’ mayor, Adolfo González, expressed dismay last week stating, “municipalities have been left adrift in their application.” He was the first to raise the alarm on this issue and has announced specific fiscal measures to alleviate the financial burden on local households. The foremost of these is a reduction in the property tax (IBI), which was approved in the latest municipal plenary session. La Orotava City Council has similarly joined this initiative and is currently exploring which municipal fees and taxes will be lowered to offset costs for residents while ensuring that the service does not operate at a deficit.
“It is expected that this fee will be managed by the Government of the Canary Islands (which has requested its collection through the local councils) and must devise a mechanism so that this obligation translates back to the town councils to enhance the service,” stated the Treasury councillor, Felipe David Benítez. He also appeals to the Spanish Government for compensatory measures for local councils, considering that not all are in the same financial position. “La Orotava is the largest municipality on the island, with complex geography; this will exacerbate the service deficits. It seems unjust for residents to bear this deficit through the waste tax,” he highlights.
His counterpart in Puerto de la Cruz echoes similar sentiments. “We intend to modify the tax ordinance, likely before the year concludes, to incorporate benefits, specifically aimed at reinstating the smart waste fee. Concurrently, we are assessing a reduction in the IBI tax rate for all citizens, although the percentage is still being determined. Additionally, there will be further reductions predominantly for large families and landlords,” remarks Pedro Antonio Campos. Particularly vocal is the Tacoronte Treasury councillor, Eduardo Dávila, who, like González, argues that this charge “encroaches upon local autonomy, since the consolidated Text of the Local Treasury Law declares that rates are a voluntary tax paid by local entities.” He clarifies that “the law fails to articulate any basic regulations regarding methodologies or criteria for preparing economic reports to ascertain an accurate cost of the service for implementing the fees, which would inevitably fluctuate as best practices are adopted and require recalibration. The pay-as-you-throw approach is left to the discretion of the local councils, which may result in vast discrepancies between them, consequently opening the door to numerous potential legal disputes.
The leaders of the smaller councils acknowledge that the situation will be exceptionally challenging for them, given their limited fiscal capabilities, necessitating support from higher administrative bodies. “We are awaiting guidance from FECAM, as this issue affects all municipalities on the island, and we plan to undertake collaborative actions,” states Eva García.
Expressions of similar concern are echoed by the leaders of El Tanque and Los Silos, Esther Morales and Carmen Luz Baso, respectively. Morales emphasises, “FECAM has indicated that the Tenerife Cabildo should assist municipalities with fewer than 20,000 residents in this regard. We trust that this petition will be heeded,” she adds. “Councils require inter-administrative backing to fulfil the objectives set by the law and thereby facilitate policies that foster the circular economy,” insists Baso. She believes it is crucial to clarify whether the fee will be administered by the Cabildo or the City Council.
The mayor of El Sauzal, Mariano Pérez, also places his faith in FECAM, stating, “We will await the forthcoming meeting to ascertain if a consensus is reached among all municipalities regarding decisions for the future.”
From Garachico, José Heriberto González conveys his concerns over the implementation of the new fee. “The intent is to foster better recycling behaviours, yet it appears rather excessive and will significantly impact our finances. We are contemplating how to mitigate this fee. It is no easy task, as the legislation proposes penalties for those generating excessive waste.”
In the municipalities of Icod de los Vinos, La Guancha, San Juan de la Rambla, and others part of the Commonwealth of the Northeast, officials have refrained from commenting on their approach to applying the new waste fee.
Enhanced awareness to prevent bins becoming waste sites
If the representatives of the fifteen municipalities in northern Tenerife concur on anything, it is the necessity for heightened public awareness to prevent bins from being misused as dumping grounds, often filled with debris, asbestos, and other hazardous materials carelessly discarded by residents, even when many municipalities provide collection services for such items upon request. According to provided data, the collection rates have declined for yellow, blue, and green bins; however, the prevalent issue remains improper dumping. In light of this, local authorities believe substantial investments are essential in awareness campaigns and educational initiatives to cultivate good practices from early childhood, all to align with European recycling directives and counter the unsightly scenes often observed in the streets of northern municipalities almost daily.
