El Vendrell, a town in the Tarragona province, will implement new waste collection systems, including door-to-door collection and smart bins, in its most populated areas starting on 8 June. This expansion targets the Tancat, Mas d'en Gual, and França neighbourhoods, which account for 20% of the town's population and 6,000 homes.
Mayor Kenneth Martínez described this as the biggest challenge in the rollout of the new waste models. Once this phase is complete, 75% of the municipality will have the new systems in place. The historical centre is expected to follow before the end of the year.
Phased Rollout and Smart Bin Access
The area starting on 8 June has been divided into sectors. Door-to-door collection will be used for single-family homes, while smart bins will serve apartment blocks. For buildings in single-family home zones, a tailored collection system with community bins is being considered, maintaining the same frequencies and days for each waste fraction.
Residents can now collect the necessary bins and cards to open the organic (brown) and residual waste (grey) smart containers. A total of 6,000 cards need to be distributed. Distribution has started at the municipal sports area offices on Avenida del Camp d’Esports.
Addressing Non-Compliance and Recycling Targets
Despite issues with rubbish accumulating outside bins and instances of anti-social behaviour observed during the recent Easter holidays in coastal neighbourhoods, the council is not altering its plans for the new systems. Mayor Martínez noted that 40% of residents in the coastal areas still need to collect their cards. He warned that those who fail to do so by the end of the year would face a surcharge on their waste collection fee.
Martínez hopes this situation will not occur in the new expansion zone, as the population resides there year-round, making it easier to reach residents for card distribution. While some municipalities have abandoned door-to-door collection, El Vendrell intends to maintain it. The town currently recycles 30% of its waste and must reach the European Union's mandated 60% target. Failure to do so would increase waste disposal costs, which would then be passed on to residents through higher fees.
Looking ahead, Martínez explained that next year's budget would include discounts on waste bills for residents who correctly separate their waste. This incentive aims to encourage greater participation and help the town meet its recycling objectives.
