The Agència de Residus de Catalunya (ARC), Catalonia's waste agency, has awarded €330,000 in grants for the cleanup, removal, transport and treatment of asbestos waste from roofs damaged by hail in Garrotxa and Alt Urgell. The funding follows severe hailstorms recorded in 2025 and is aimed at property owners facing costly specialist work after asbestos cement roofing was broken.
For residents, farmers and business owners in affected rural areas, the decision matters because damaged asbestos cannot be handled like normal building waste. It must be removed and treated through authorised channels because broken material can release hazardous fibres. Readers can check how official schemes work in our Source Transparency and Editorial Policy pages.
Grants cover hail damage recorded in June and August 2025
According to ARC's resolution TER/4547/2024, the aid is for buildings affected by exceptional hailstorms in the counties of Ripollès, Garrotxa and Alt Urgell during 2025. The resolution cited the need to fund cleaning, removal, transport and treatment of asbestos waste from damaged roofs.
The source material provided for this article states that the resolved award totals €330,000 for Garrotxa and Alt Urgell.
- Garrotxa and Ripollès: hailstorm dated Sunday 1 June 2025
- Alt Urgell: hailstorm dated Tuesday 19 August 2025
- Eligible work: cleanup, removal, transport and treatment of asbestos waste
The Servei Meteorològic de Catalunya (Meteocat), Catalonia's weather service, documented these episodes as exceptional weather events. Meteocat has also reported a wider increase in large-diameter hail in Catalonia in recent years.
ARC's resolution states that the grants are intended for the cleaning, removal, transport and treatment of asbestos waste from building roofs affected by hailstorms in the designated counties.
Why asbestos roof damage requires specialist removal
Asbestos was widely used in older roofing and construction materials. When panels crack or shatter, the risk is not just visible damage to a property but the potential release of fibres that require controlled handling and disposal.
That means owners cannot simply repair or discard broken sheets themselves. Removal must follow official waste and safety rules, using authorised operators and approved treatment routes.
ARC's public guidance on asbestos-related grants sets out the framework for these schemes and the conditions attached to eligible removal work.
Local impact in affected rural areas
The source material says the hailstorms damaged numerous properties in the affected areas. Complaints were also raised about slower systems in rural areas compared with cities. It also cited damage to vehicles, roofs and photovoltaic panels installed at Sant Pau's town hall and tourism office.
Where asbestos roofing was involved, that damage created an extra layer of cost and legal responsibility for owners, because disposal is tightly regulated.
What affected property owners should do next
Owners of buildings with suspected asbestos damage should avoid disturbing broken material and use official channels for assessment and removal. The relevant scheme is managed by ARC, which publishes information on asbestos grants and application conditions through the Generalitat's waste portal.
- Do not move or break damaged roofing sheets
- Check whether the property and damage fall within the authorised grant scheme
- Use authorised asbestos removal and waste treatment services
- Keep records linked to the incident and any repair or cleanup work
People needing case-specific guidance should consult ARC's asbestos grants information or contact the Generalitat through the official waste administration channels. If you have information about how the scheme is working locally, you can also Contact Us.
Primary sources: Agència de Residus de Catalunya (ARC), Agència de Residus de Catalunya (ARC), Agència de Residus de Catalunya (ARC), Generalitat de Catalunya - Govern. Reported by Servei Meteorològic de Catalunya (Meteocat), Agència de Residus de Catalunya (ARC), Diari de Girona.
