Tenerife’s Cabildo will allocate €3.5 million to convert the former waste transfer plant in Arona into a new logistics centre. The facility will feature an eco-point, a service area for caravans, and a zone for crushing bulky waste. Located at the Malpaso plant, the project includes constructing a covered structure to handle large materials along with new buildings for general services and recycling.
Enhancements will also improve the leachate treatment system, which deals with liquid waste produced from accumulated refuse. The aim is to modernise the facility to better manage waste and minimise environmental impact. The site currently processes daily waste from Arona, Adeje, Santiago del Teide, Guía de Isora, Granadilla de Abona, Vilaflor, and San Miguel de Abona, serving a significant portion of southern Tenerife.
In 2025, the old transfer plant handled 161,925 tonnes, nearly 35% of all waste processed at similar facilities across the island. The eco-point in Arona welcomed nearly 29,000 users last year, collecting approximately 6,998 tonnes of material—a figure the Cabildo hopes to increase following the service expansion.
The island now has three other similar facilities in La Guancha, La Orotava, and El Rosario, where waste volume is reduced and compacted before being sent for recycling. The revamped installation employs 15 staff members and will have extended hours from Monday to Sunday, aiming to make it more convenient for residents to dispose of their waste.
A standout feature will be the new caravan area, allowing users to empty grey and black water tanks and access drinking water. Cabildo President Rosa Dávila announced plans for similar areas to be included at the eco-point in Las Chafiras, San Miguel de Abona, and the environmental complex in Arico.
Councillor for Natural Resources, Sustainability, Safety, and Emergencies, Blanca Pérez, highlighted that the facility can now receive and crush large materials on-site, which will reduce the number of heavy truck trips to the island’s environmental complex by 746 to 995 annually, helping lessen traffic and emissions.
Alejandro Molowny, the island’s waste director, noted the improvements will benefit residents, local councils, and businesses by reducing road traffic. Arona’s Mayor, Fátima Lemes, emphasised that the investment is a timely response to current needs, facilitating waste management for residents and contributing to lower pollution levels.
