What's happening with the garbage in Ontinyent: a complete guide on the rate increase and the new system
Garbage conflict in Ontinyent: what’s happening, why the fee is rising and how it really affects residents
In Ontinyent, the issue of garbage has gone in a short time from being a secondary matter to becoming one of the main concerns for many residents. This is not a problem of waste accumulation nor a service crisis as has happened in other cities, but something different: a deep change in the collection system and in the way of paying for it.
This article explains clearly, comprehensively and without political positioning what is happening, why this change has occurred and how it can practically affect citizens.
A change that affects the whole city
The Ontinyent City Council is implementing a new waste collection model that changes how residents manage their garbage day to day.
The change is not minor. It involves:
Separating waste at home more strictly
Adapting to new collection systems depending on the area
Assuming a different economic model in the garbage fee
This type of transformation generates debate because it is not only a technical issue: it directly affects daily habits, the time devoted to it at home and, above all, people’s wallets.
Why is the garbage system changing?
One of the most common doubts is whether this change is a local decision or imposed from outside.
The reality is that it has much to do with national and European legislation. Specifically, with Law 7/2022 on waste and contaminated soils for a circular economy, which obliges municipalities to improve waste management and to change the way the service is financed.
👉 https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2022-5809
This regulation establishes, among other things:
The need to increase waste separation
Reduce mixed waste
Introduce more efficient systems
And, above all, that the fee covers the real cost of the service
In addition, the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces has reminded that municipalities must adapt their fees so they are not deficit-making and can evolve towards models more aligned with each citizen’s behavior.
👉 https://www.femp.es/sites/default/files/multimedia/CUESTIONES-TASA-RESIDUOS.pdf
In short: the change is mandatory, although the specific way of applying it may vary from one municipality to another.
The fee increase: the center of the debate
If there is one aspect that has generated the most concern it is the economic one.
In Ontinyent, the garbage fee has experienced a notable rise in recent years, going from approximately around 44 euros per year to figures close to 136 euros, with forecasts of possible additional increases.
This has caused unease among residents for several reasons:
It is a very visible increase
It comes in a context of overall rising expenses
And it happens at the same time the system is changing
The City Council links this increase to the obligation to cover the real cost of the service and to the implementation of the new model. That is, it is no longer partially financed with other municipal income, but is reflected directly in the fee.
How the new collection system works
Although it is still in the process of being implemented, the new model is based on a clear idea: separate better to manage better.
Separation at source
Residents must classify waste into different fractions:
Organic
Packaging
Paper and cardboard
Glass
Residual
This implies dedicating more attention at home to how garbage is managed.
Different systems depending on the area
There is not a single system for the entire city. Different solutions are being applied:
In dispersed areas: drop-off points with access via keyring or app
In apartment communities: models adapted according to the building
In businesses: specific collection already in operation
This diversity responds to Ontinyent’s own structure, where very different urban realities coexist.
Progressive implementation
The system is not being applied all at once. It began with large generators, such as businesses, and will then be extended to the rest of the population.
This allows the model to be adjusted on the go, although it also prolongs the period of uncertainty.
What “pay by generation” means
One of the concepts that is most repeated is “pay by generation,” although it is not always well understood.
In simple terms, it means that the system seeks that:
Those who recycle correctly have advantages
Those who do not, do not benefit equally
It does not necessarily mean paying for each bag of garbage, but it does mean that behavior influences, in one way or another, the final cost of the service.
The main doubts of residents
Beyond the political debate, there are very concrete concerns on the street.
Space at home
Separating waste requires space. In small or old homes it can be complicated to organize several bins.
Changes in routine
Some systems require following specific schedules or days to put out each type of waste, which demands a certain discipline.
Adaptation of older people
The new model may be more complex for people who have spent their whole lives using simpler systems.
Sense of control
The use of keyrings, apps or registers raises doubts among part of the population about how the system works and what information is collected.
Economic impact
The fee increase is, without a doubt, the main concern. Even among those who see improving recycling as positive.
Were there alternatives?
The law requires improving waste management, but it does not establish a single closed model.
There are different systems in other municipalities:
Improved traditional containers
Smart containers
Mixed models
More progressive rollouts
Therefore, the debate is not so much whether change was necessary, but how that change should have been made.
What may happen from now on
The current conflict will probably not be resolved immediately. These kinds of changes usually generate initial rejection and then evolve over time.
There are several factors that will be key:
The clarity of the information citizens receive
The ease of use of the system in day-to-day life
Adaptation to different types of housing
And, especially, whether the promised discounts are applied
Social perception of the system will largely depend on the real experience of residents in the coming months.
Conclusion
The garbage conflict in Ontinyent is not simply a discussion about bins or containers. It is a broader debate about how to manage an essential service in a context of new legal and environmental demands.
Part of the change is driven by the law and is difficult to avoid. But there is also room in how that change is applied, how it is communicated and how its cost is distributed.
In the end, beyond political positions, the key will be a very concrete question: whether the system works well in practice and is affordable for the majority of residents.
Sources consulted
Frequently asked questions about garbage in Ontinyent
Why has the garbage fee increased in Ontinyent?
Is the new collection system mandatory?
How much is paid now for garbage in Ontinyent?
What happens if I don’t recycle correctly?
Answers to all these questions shortly.
