Santa Cruz de Tenerife Faces Scrutiny Over Waste Contract and Public Service Management
Santa Cruz de Tenerife’s municipal government faces opposition scrutiny over waste management financing, water contract investment shortfalls, and plans to reclaim the Plaza de España parking garage.
Public services in Santa Cruz de Tenerife are facing heavy scrutiny following a recent municipal oversight meeting. The Socialist group (PSOE) has raised concerns about the financing of waste collection vehicles, arguing that the city used public funds to pay for trucks that the contractor, Valoriza, should have provided as part of its agreement.
PSOE spokesperson Patricia Hernández cited a July technical report suggesting that the City Council used budget adjustments to buy two trucks already in use—a move she claims contradicts legal and auditing advice. Carlos Tarife, the Councilor for Public Services, dismissed the criticism as political maneuvering. He defended the purchase, stating it was funded by European grants for organic waste management and that the vehicles were deployed early to meet manufacturer warranty requirements.
This dispute comes amid public frustration over urban cleanliness and pest control, which the opposition blames on poor management of the waste contract.
Water management was also a point of contention. The opposition highlighted that since the water contract was awarded to Sacyr and Emmasa in 2005, only 65 million euros of the promised 165 million in investments have been completed, even as water bills have risen by 24.3% over the last four years. The government defended the network’s efficiency and pointed to upcoming projects, including an expansion of the local desalination plant.
Additionally, the City Council announced that the Plaza de España parking garage will return to public management on January 1, 2027. The Municipal Housing Authority plans to take over the facility to lower rates and carry out renovations, such as installing an elevator. The city is also currently pursuing a 3.3-million-euro claim against the current operator for necessary repairs. Finally, officials confirmed they are in talks with the Canary Islands government to install noise barriers along the TF-5 highway to address complaints from local residents.