Arico Demands Urgent Renegotiation of Tenerife Waste Facility Compensation Agreement
The Arico City Council is demanding an urgent revision of its waste management agreement with the Tenerife Cabildo, citing inadequate compensation and a lack of communication regarding the socioeconomic and environmental impact of the island's main environmental complex.
Waste management has once again become a major political issue in Tenerife. The municipality of Arico is calling for an urgent update to its financial and administrative agreement with the Cabildo, which oversees the island’s Environmental Complex located in the town. This dispute has been at a standstill for eleven months, following a lack of response from Rosa Dávila’s government to a proposal submitted by the local council in November 2025.
The disagreement centers on how financial compensation is calculated. Historically, the Cabildo has based payments solely on the physical size of the facility. However, the Arico City Council, supported by the Socialist group (PSOE), argues that this approach is insufficient. They contend that the island’s waste management plan requires a broader assessment that accounts for the socioeconomic impact, environmental effects, and the reduced quality of life for local residents.
Socialist councilors Tamara Raya and Javier Rodríguez Medina have introduced a motion to resolve the deadlock. Their demands include finalizing the agreement, paying outstanding amounts for the 2025 fiscal year—adjusted for inflation—and establishing a technical working group. This group would be tasked with commissioning an independent study to accurately value the impact the facility has on the municipality, without preventing the council from pursuing further claims in the future.
The situation has been worsened by a breakdown in communication. The Socialist group reports that the Cabildo’s Minister of the Presidency has ignored a request for an urgent meeting submitted by the City Council on October 13. Consequently, the party is now demanding access to the full agreement file and the convening of a Technical Commission within fifteen days. Their goal is to ensure the Cabildo takes responsibility for the burden Arico carries by hosting an essential service for the entire island, calling for a more fair and transparent compensation process.