Spanish municipalities implement new waste management taxes

Municipalities in Spain are implementing new waste management and treatment taxes in response to national Law 7/2022 on waste and contaminated soils for a circular economy. This legislation requires local entities to establish specific fees to finance the collection, transport, and treatment of municipal waste.

In Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the voluntary payment period for the 2026 tax will begin in September. Individual notifications are scheduled to be sent starting September 20, 2026, with the second semester collection period running until November 23, 2026. The administration has delayed the start of the payment period to allow residents more time to review their information and resolve doubts.

In Vélez-Málaga, the local government has initiated a review of waste tax receipts following complaints from professionals, freelancers, and merchants. The Economic Area has identified issues such as duplicate charges and discrepancies in the recorded square footage of commercial premises. The Councilor for Economy and Finance, Manuel Gutiérrez, has requested a meeting with the Collection Board to address these errors and resolve the discrepancies.