Valencia recycles 5,400 mattresses from flood debris using new technology

The Generalitat Valenciana has successfully recycled 5,441 mattresses damaged during the October 2024 floods (DANA) using specialized technology developed by the Ontinyent-based company Ecoaqua. This process utilizes ultra-high-pressure water to separate mattress components, allowing for the recovery of 100% of the materials for industrial reuse and preventing them from entering landfills.

Vicente Martínez Mus, the Third Vice President and Counselor for Environment, Infrastructure, Territory, and Recovery, visited the facilities to observe the technology in action. He noted that the floods generated over one million tons of waste, exceeding the management capacity of local municipalities. To address this, the Generalitat implemented an extraordinary waste management plan involving an investment of more than 200 million euros.

The recovery effort utilized transfer points in Catarroja, Picassent, and Quart de Poblet, alongside the Metropolitan Entity for Waste Treatment (EMTRE) facilities, to classify and separate various materials including mattresses, tires, butane canisters, and plastics.