Tacoronte Officials Criticized Over Handling of Termite-Infested Waste
Nueva Canarias has criticized Tacoronte's local government for allegedly mishandling contaminated waste and violating safety protocols in its efforts to contain a subterranean termite infestation.
The management of a subterranean termite infestation in Tacoronte is under fire after José Daniel Díaz, spokesperson for Nueva Canarias, warned that the local government is mishandling contaminated waste. According to Díaz, officials have been moving debris from infested coastal areas to other parts of the town, a practice he claims violates the safety protocols required to stop the spread of the Reticulitermes flavipes termite.
The controversy centers on the dumping of rubble, soil, and plant waste on public land near the municipal cemetery. These materials were cleared from the El Pris neighborhood following storm damage, but they have now been relocated near the Santa Catalina church. Because this site is close to historic buildings and older homes, there is growing concern that the pests could spread to previously unaffected areas.
This is not the first time such an issue has been raised; previously, infected plant debris was found dumped on a farm in the La Caridad neighborhood. Díaz has criticized the local government—a coalition of the PSOE, CC, and PP—for failing to follow municipal rules and biological control guidelines.
The situation is particularly urgent given Tacoronte’s history with the pest. Over the last decade, the town has worked to eradicate the termites in areas like Juan Fernández and Puerto de la Madera. Because experts have yet to confirm the total elimination of the species, officials must handle any potentially infested material with extreme caution. The current dispute highlights the difficult balance between cleaning up after storms and the need to strictly control the spread of an invasive species that threatens both homes and the town’s historical heritage.