Güímar Faces Legal Warning Over Irregular Waste Management Payments
The Güímar municipal government is facing legal scrutiny after approving nearly 247,000 euros in payments to a waste management company despite warnings from internal experts that the invoices are legally void and lack proper oversight.
Public services in the Tenerife municipality of Güímar are once again mired in controversy. The local government has approved the payment of three invoices to the waste management company FCC Medio Ambiente, totaling nearly 247,000 euros, despite formal warnings from municipal experts that the payments are legally void.
The Municipal Secretariat has issued a serious alert, noting that continuing with these payments could lead to criminal consequences. Internal reports state that the government is proceeding despite the fact that the contract with the company was officially annulled in March 2023. Since then, the service has continued under an arrangement that legal and accounting departments consider irregular.
The primary issue is a lack of proper oversight. The Comptroller’s Office noted that the invoices are opaque, providing only a total figure without breaking down costs or justifying price increases. While Municipal Services Councilor José Miguel Hernández dismissed these concerns—blaming the situation on the contract’s annulment and increased staffing costs—technical reports maintain that the current process bypasses the authority of the municipal council.
The situation is further complicated by a "dual billing" system. In addition to regular monthly charges, the company is billing for a "shock plan" or supplement, which the Municipal Secretariat has described as "unjustifiable." Officials argue that this additional structure has been created without the necessary legal backing, leading experts to call for a formal review of the entire file.
To resolve the impasse, the municipal council has voted to recognize the payment obligation while referring the case to the Canary Islands’ Administrative Contracting Advisory Board. The local government argues this is the fifth time they have used this method to ensure that street cleaning and waste collection services continue, emphasizing that the management challenges remain the same as they were when the original contract was cancelled.