Pedreguer City Council convened a town hall meeting this week to discuss the new waste ordinance, approved on November 11, 2024, which includes an increase in the municipal waste collection fee, as well as a 15% discount for those who use the door-to-door collection system.
This measure responds to the obligation established by Law 7/2022, of April 8, on Waste and Contaminated Soil for a Circular Economy, which requires that all municipal taxes be specific, differentiated, and non-deficit by April 2025. Most municipalities have adapted their ordinances between 2023 and 2024, and Pedreguer has been no exception.
To inform the public, the government team wanted to publicly explain the changes and clarify any doubts about the new rate, especially regarding the exclusive discount for selective sorting through the door-to-door system. The meeting, held on Tuesday, April 22nd at the Pista-Espai Cultural, was well attended by residents.
During the event, the mayor and councilor for Finance, Sergi Ferrús Peris, along with the councilor for the Environment, Ferran Lloret Morell, and the councilor for Municipal Services, Pepe Cabrera Puigcerver, detailed the reasons for the rate update, the comparison with other municipalities in the Marina Alta region, and the criteria for applying the discount.
The mayor emphasized that Pedreguer is the only municipality in the region that applies this type of discount, with the aim of encouraging responsible recycling and the use of door-to-door recycling instead of collection points. According to the data presented, of the approximately 1.200 households that could benefit from the discount, only about 850 have done so. The other 350 families have found this year that not separating comes at a cost: they will pay €150,47, compared to €127,90 for those who do separate at source.
For their part, homes located in residential areas will pay 135,04 euros, and those in scattered areas will pay 122,72 euros.
Ferrús explained that the SUMA proposal was initially rejected because it didn't reflect the local reality, as the calculation is based solely on the cadastral value and the number of registered residents per home, factors that don't necessarily reflect actual waste generation. However, it was agreed to apply the ordinance as long as a discount was included for door-to-door users, who until then had been penalized.
The mayor also emphasized that this ordinance is temporary, and that the medium-term goal is to move toward a more fair, pay-as-you-go system that adheres to the "polluter pays" principle. The council has pledged to work on a new ordinance in collaboration with the opposition, which would take into account not only door-to-door users but also situations such as vacant homes, homes that generate less than 200 kg of waste per year, or residences outside the city center that use communal bins.
In addition, a 90% tax discount is maintained for people with incomes below the minimum wage.
The meeting concluded with a question-and-answer session from the audience, where it was emphasized again that this measure aims to encourage greater citizen involvement in waste reduction and recycling, and that the City Council will continue to support sustainable models adapted to the municipality's current situation.
