Spain records over 17,000 illegal waste dumping violations in 2025, Almería hotspots highlighted

In 2025 Spanish authorities logged 17,173 administrative infractions for illegal waste dumping and an additional 137 criminal offences, leading to the detention of 132 people. The violations span a range of waste types, including household refuse, construction debris, hazardous solids such as asbestos, and toxic liquids.

Almería province is a major hotspot: environmental groups identified more than 400 illegal dump sites, primarily plastic waste from greenhouse agriculture. They estimate 10,000‑15,000 tonnes of unrecycled plastic are produced each year there—enough to cover roughly 560 football fields. Ecologistas en Acción’s online platform has documented 939 sites nationwide, 851 of which involve solid waste.

The European Commission has taken Spain to the EU Court of Justice over 195 illegal landfills that remain unclosed since being reported in 2008, accusing the country of failing to protect the environment and public health.