Tacoronte Launches Organic Waste Initiative with Tax Incentives for Residents

Tacoronte is set to overhaul its waste management system in the coming weeks by introducing a new selective collection process for organic waste. According to El Día, this initiative aims to make the municipality a leader in bio-waste management across Tenerife. The project focuses on improving waste treatment while rewarding residents for responsible habits.

To support this change, the council is installing 144 new side-loading metal bins. Each bin holds 2,400 liters, tripling the capacity of the current containers. To use these bins, residents will need an electronic access card, which is issued upon proof of payment of the municipal waste tax. The council is also testing a mobile app that will eventually allow residents to access the bins via their phones.

For this system to work, residents must separate their waste carefully. Only food scraps, coffee grounds, flowers, and paper towels—placed in compostable bags—should be deposited in the new bins. Proper sorting is essential, as contamination prevents the waste from being composted, making it difficult for the council to meet European environmental standards.

To encourage participation, the council is offering a 20% discount on the annual waste tax for residents who use the service regularly. To qualify, households must make at least 50 deposits over a 36-week period. This same 20% discount is available to residents who choose to compost at home, a move designed to reduce the carbon footprint caused by transporting waste.

Eduardo Dávila, the Councilor for Solid Waste, noted that this policy uses tax incentives to drive environmental progress. By encouraging better recycling, the municipality hopes to reduce the amount of organic waste sent to landfills and contribute to broader efforts to combat climate change.