Rubbish collection row
CATRAL introduced door-todoor collections of organic waste on March 6, as part of the rubbish collection service by concessionary company Acciona, but not without criticism from residents and opposition parties.
Many residents have complained on the town hall’s social media profiles, claiming there has been a lack of information and that leaving the new containers out five days a week for collection is unhygienic and will cause problems with bad smells and pests.
Free kits to separate organic waste have been available for residents to collect from the company office at Calle General Prim, 2, since February 24.
The Alternativa por Catral (ApC) minority council called a meeting last Wednesday for communities of residents and apartment blocks in order to clear up any doubts.
They said there would be a transition period during which communal bins in the streets would still be available until March 31.
The council also assured there ‘are solutions’ for any communities that do not want or do not have space for the new containers, and that this sort of recycling is more efficient and required to comply with last year’s waste management law.
Nevertheless, the opposition Partido Popular (PP) launched a petition against the new system, which has reportedly garnered 1,800 signatures in the municipality with about 9,000 residents.
They claimed they had voted against this method but their alternative proposals were rejected, and assured they would try to change it if they win the local election in May and ‘if the legislation allows us’.
Meanwhile the Socialist party (PSOE), which had approved the new waste management service while it formed part of the council until being ousted by ApC, accused the concessionary of not complying with the conditions of its contract.
They argued that the system is more environmentally respectful and will cut waste treatment costs by 40%, but the company has not fulfilled its obligations to properly inform residents and failed to meet deadlines, amongst others.
The PSOE alleged the ApC mayor had not enforced this, and the PP had not exercised its rights to participate in the contract negotiations or to appeal against the agreement.