# Waste management service changes in Catalonia

> Developing situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/waste-management-service-changes-in-catalonia
> Updated: 2026-10-31T07:00:37.000Z. Sources: 10. Developments: 3.

Municipalities across Catalonia are undergoing various transitions in their waste management and cleaning services. In Igualada, the ‘Unitat de Neteja Barris a Fons’ initiative has been launched to provide monthly deep cleaning across all city neighborhoods. More recently, the Esquerra Republicana (ERC) party presented a sustainability package for the city. This proposal includes a new selective waste collection model designed to increase recycling rates by linking service costs to individual separation habits, alongside plans for riverbank recovery, expanded electric vehicle charging networks, and a plan to combat energy poverty. In Amposta, the City Council approved a local waste prevention plan consisting of 26 actions to reduce waste generation. This follows reports that 2025 recycling rates in the area reached only 43.12 percent, falling below both the Montsià regional and Catalan averages. The plan is supported by a subsidy from the Waste Agency of Catalonia targeting food waste reduction. Service delivery continues to face challenges in Sant Sadurní d’Anoia, Olèrdola, and Sant Quintí de Mediona. Local governments there are demanding solutions for significant delays in door-to-door waste collection, which have caused night shifts to extend into the following afternoon. The Penedès-Garraf Mancomunitat attributed these delays to ongoing collective bargaining negotiations with service provider workers. Conversely, the Gironès region reports high success with selective collection. Municipalities including Juià, Sant Joan de Mollet, and Llambilles have achieved high rankings in Catalonia. The eight Gironès municipalities using the door-to-door system reached an average selective collection rate of 86.7%, well above the regional average of 48.13%. Recent developments include Palafrugell approving a collaboration agreement with Lloret de Mar to manage municipal waste until 2029 at an estimated cost of 3.5 million euros.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-31: Spanish municipalities propose various waste management and sustainability reforms

Municipalities across Spain are advancing sustainability initiatives, including new waste management plans in Amposta and Palafrugell, and environmental proposals in Igualada.

8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sustainability-proposals-emerge-in-igualada-and-amposta

### 2026-10-27: Municipalities in Catalonia face waste collection issues and recycling successes

Catalan municipalities face contrasting waste management news: Sant Sadurní, Olèrdola, and Sant Quintí report collection delays due to labor negotiations, while Gironès towns see high recycling rates.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/municipalities-in-catalonia-face-waste-collection-issues-and-recycling-successes

### 2026-10-18: Catalan municipalities restructure waste and cleaning services

Municipalities in Catalonia are restructuring waste management: Igualada has launched a new deep-cleaning unit for all neighborhoods, while Cambrils prepares to end its long-term contract with Secomsa.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/catalan-municipalities-restructure-waste-and-cleaning-services

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Cite as: Waste management service changes in Catalonia. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/waste-management-service-changes-in-catalonia
