📋 Tender Overview
In 2025 municipalities that do not yet request the required waste fee to meet European recycling targets will have to do so mandatorily.
The Waste Law approved in 2022 established a three-year deadline for municipalities with more than 5000 inhabitants to adapt their waste management to the recycling targets set by the European Union. This adaptation was to be carried out through the imposition of a new waste fee that would cover the collection transportation and treatment of urban solid waste in accordance with the principle of the polluter pays. Municipalities that have not yet fulfilled this commitment and have not implemented this fee will be required to do so starting in 2025. What objectives does the Waste Law have? The Law 7/2022 on waste and contaminated soils for a circular economy transposed a European directive from 2018 in Spain to comply with the new objectives established in community regulations and to promote the circular economy in Spain. The fundamental goal of this law is to increase the circularity of waste. To achieve this the regulation introduced the obligation to separately collect new fractions of waste such as bio-waste textiles hazardous household waste used cooking oils and bulky waste for subsequent differentiated treatment. This new framework was completed with the introduction of a calendar for the implementation of separate waste collections and measures to minimize the use of single-use plastics. Furthermore the law aims to minimize the negative effects of waste generation and management on human health and the environment contributing to the fight against climate change and the protection of the marine environment. It aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda especially those related to sustainable production and consumption climate action and life below water. Why is a new waste management fee established? The European directive of 2018 required member states to achieve 55% reuse and recycling of municipal waste by 2025 a percentage that must reach 60% by 2030 and 65% by 2035. To achieve this goal the Spanish law established that municipalities with more than 5000 inhabitants must apply a tax that covers the costs of collection transportation and treatment of urban solid waste and they must do so within a three-year period. This deadline expired in April 2025. Waste fee: how much is paid how and when? Each municipality can implement this tax according to its own criteria so it is the municipalities themselves that determine how to calculate the amount of the fee. In any case the fee must reflect the actual cost of the service including not only collection and treatment but also monitoring operations maintenance expenses or awareness and communication campaigns on the matter. The law also provides that municipalities can adapt the fee to the characteristics of their population with tools such as reductions for vulnerable individuals or families or incentives for the separate collection of waste in vacation rental homes. To confirm how much through what means (transfer cash or direct debit) and when this fee is paid it is recommended to visit the municipal office or access the website of the corresponding municipality. Obligations of the Waste Law for companies In addition to municipalities companies have also had to adapt to the Waste Law which since the entry into force of this regulation in 2022 have the obligation to minimize the use of single-use plastics. With this goal always in mind the law established measures such as: The prohibition of selling plastic products such as cutlery plates or straws. Charging customers an amount for each non-reusable plastic product delivered specifying this additional cost. In the case of restaurants customers must be offered non-bottled water for free. The extension of producer responsibility to the complete treatment of waste to ensure that producers take responsibility for waste management. The creation of new levies such as the plastic tax which taxes the use of non-reusable plastic packaging or the tax on deposit and incineration of waste in landfills. These measures are complemented by promoting the design of more durable repairable and recyclable products avoiding premature obsolescence and encouraging reuse. Additionally measures are included to inform consumers about the reparability and environmental impact of certain products. The role of the Waste Law in the fight against climate change The Waste Law establishes a general framework to improve waste management and reduce its environmental impact which represents a significant contribution to the fight against climate change. With measures such as separate collection prevention of plastic use and the application of the principle the polluter pays it seeks to move towards a more resource-efficient economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with waste which are estimated to be 4% of the total.
