Arbúcies officials demand pollution controls at ACIN recycling plant

The Arbúcies City Council has requested that the Generalitat install systems for daily monitoring of pollution levels at the ACIN metal recycling and recovery plant in Can Aulet. Mayor Pere Garriga stated that while the legality of the company's permits is not in question, continuous and public data is necessary to ensure environmental limits are not exceeded.

Simultaneously, the local platform Protegim Arbúcies (PROTEGARB) has brought its opposition to the plant's expansion project before the Parliament. The group warns that the proposed expansion would increase the volume of treated hazardous and non-hazardous waste sixfold, reaching 572,000 tons annually.

PROTEGARB alleges that recent analyses revealed heavy metal levels far exceeding legal limits, specifically claiming lead levels are 49 times higher than permitted. The platform also reported dangerous concentrations of cadmium, copper, chromium, nickel, and zinc, as well as metal discharges into the nearby riera Xica. They have criticized existing public health reports as obsolete and expressed concerns regarding increased heavy vehicle traffic and potential environmental crimes.