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Date Published: 09/08/2024

Win for Costa Blanca residents as plans for biowaste plant scrapped

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Los Montesinos has backed out of hosting a new waste composting facility

Win for Costa Blanca residents as plans for biowaste plant scrapped

Much to the relief of locals, the Mayor of Los Montesinos, José Manuel Butrón, appears to have bowed under public pressure and has withdrawn his permission for an organic waste recycling plant to be built in the town.

Back in July, the local government agreed to donate a 3,580 square metre plot of land in the Levante II industrial estate so that a biowaste facility could be constructed. This decision caused outrage, and more than a thousand residents took to the streets in protest.

The enormous backlash has forced the municipal government to back down this week.

The proposed facility in Los Montesinos was intended to be the first of its kind in the Vega Baja region, designed to transform organic waste into natural fertiliser. This waste, free from impurities, would come from household and catering food scraps.

The unique aspect of this plant was its focus on handling the organic fraction of waste that municipalities can separate at the source using brown containers. However, the implementation of such source separation is still quite limited in the area.

Despite this challenge, the plant was expected to process around 4,500 tonnes of waste annually, providing compensation to the municipality at a rate of 4 euros per tonne, plus additional fees totalling 22,000 euros per year.

The only alternative now seems to be a vacant plot of land in nearby Rojales, but it’s clear that the rejection of Los Montesinos will not encourage the neighbouring municipality to take on the project.

But time is ticking, and the fate of a proposed project hangs in the balance. With European funding of more than one million euros at stake, out of a total project cost of four million euros, there are concerns about meeting deadlines.

As things stand, the Vega Baja region lacks permanent facilities to handle the nearly 200,000 tonnes of waste generated annually. The challenge is further compounded by the resistance from local communities, with even eco-parks like Guardamar declining to host waste treatment facilities.

Meanwhile, the costs of exporting waste from the 27 municipalities to other plants in Alicante and Valencia are soaring, with prices exceeding 150 euros per tonne and placing a significant burden on municipal budgets.

In other news: Alicante Airport strikes extended to last all of August

Image: Plataforma NO A La Planta de Basura Orgánica

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