Spain and EU advance circular economy and recycling initiatives

Spain is advancing several initiatives to meet the objectives of Law 7/2022 on Waste and Contaminated Soils. Key developments include the finalization of the national Deposit, Return, and Refund System (SDDR) and the emergence of chemical recycling projects capable of breaking down plastics at a molecular level.

At the municipal level, El Puerto de Santa María is installing open cages for paper and cardboard in commercial and beach areas to prevent container overflow. In Alicante, a new four-year, 1.6 million euro contract has been approved for separate textile waste collection, aiming to increase annual collection from 1,100 to over 3,000 tons.

On a broader scale, the European Commission is preparing its future Circular Economy Law, expected to be adopted by 2026. European Commissioner Jessika Roswall recently met with youth representatives to discuss proposals for the law, which advocates for prioritizing resource efficiency, product repairability, and the availability of high-quality secondary materials. Meanwhile, in Spain, regional programs like Castilla-La Mancha’s ‘Tú eres la llave’ continue to promote environmental education.