Spain launches new waste‑recycling plants in Valencia and Catalonia

The municipality of Llíria in the Valencian province inaugurated a €6 million facility for treating bulky waste such as mattresses, furniture and other large items. Funded by EU Next Generation funds, the plant can process up to 13 000 mattresses and recover around 10 000 other objects each year for reuse, aiming to cut landfill volumes and promote a circular economy.

In Catalonia, the operator of the Lloret de Mar landfill presented plans for a pioneering plant that would burn residual waste, capture the CO₂ produced and convert it into sodium bicarbonate. The €200 million project, partially EU‑financed, targets about 120 000 tonnes of non‑recyclable waste annually. Local environmental groups have raised health‑risk concerns over potential emissions and toxic ash, prompting community opposition.

Both initiatives reflect Spain’s broader push to modernise waste management, reduce landfill reliance and explore resource‑recovery technologies, though they differ in scale, technology and public reception.