Santa Úrsula Struggles to Curb Illegal Waste Dumping Amid Lack of Local Regulations

Santa Úrsula is struggling to manage illegal waste dumping, as local authorities find their hands tied by a lack of specific municipal laws. Without a dedicated local ordinance, the council must rely on general environmental regulations to penalize those who leave bulky items on public streets—a practice that can result in fines of up to 6,000 euros.

A recent case of illegal dumping near La Calzada has drawn attention to the difficulty of monitoring hotspots like Majuelos and Fuente Gonzalo streets. Samuel Hernández Rodríguez, the Councilor for Parks and Gardens, confirmed that the Local Police have identified several suspects. Their cases are now being reviewed by the tax department to determine appropriate fines. This issue has persisted for over five years, typically peaking during the Christmas season and the start of the school year.

The problem is compounded by the fact that many offenders travel from neighboring towns to dump their waste in Santa Úrsula’s quieter areas. This occurs despite the Northeast Commonwealth’s efforts to improve bulky waste collection, which now operates almost daily and offers free pickup services via phone and messaging apps.

While the council has increased police patrols and public awareness campaigns, the absence of a local regulation—which is currently being drafted—limits their ability to take swift action. Although officials note that local residents are generally becoming more responsible, they emphasize that finalizing these new local rules is essential to provide the administration with the legal tools needed to effectively stop these environmental violations.