How to Reduce Waste Collection Fees in Alicante by Up to 20%

The Alicante City Council has approved in an extraordinary session the new fiscal ordinance which will increase the waste collection fee up to four times starting in 2025. The increase will depend on both the size of the property and its cadastral value. For example, the minimum fee for a 102 square meter home, previously 22.72 euros, will rise to 83.62 euros once the new rate is approved.

The European Union aims to align the fee with the actual cost of waste treatment from collection to separation, preparation, and disposal. This European regulation has been reflected in the budgets of municipalities by the Spanish Government. In Alicante, which has one of the lowest waste service fees in Spain (only behind Soria), this increase will be significant.

In addition to preventing a public finance deficit, the aim of the community institutions is also to promote recycling. Therefore, the regulation approved by the City Council includes economic incentives for those who separate waste into five bins: paper, glass, plastic, residual, and organic, the brown bins.

This reduction in the fee can reach up to 20% if the card is used at least four times a month for 10 out of the 12 months of the year. The reduction will decrease to 15% if these four uses are met for 8 months, 10% for five months, and 5% for three months.

These brown bins, which the Alicante City Council is currently installing throughout the city, have a programmable electronic lock that allows the user to be identified, open the lid, and record waste contributions using electronic cards and an app.

Therefore, to benefit from this saving, one only needs to obtain the card that will allow opening the bins. Those who already have it will receive it directly at home, while new users must request it through www.tuhacesalicante.es or alternatively, they can install an app on their mobile phones that is being prepared, which will also allow them to open the devices.

Residents can request the card at the points set up in the neighbourhoods alongside the implementation of the bins, and its use will be encouraged with the distribution of 10-litre domestic bins for organic waste collection upon registration.

Additionally, users who visit the information points will be given an explanatory leaflet. The opening cards for the devices will be sent to homes, along with leaflets and an informative letter.