Council´s rubbish charge goes up by 26pc despite election promises

PALMA
THE Council of Majorca yesterday approved a rise of 26 percent in the charge for rubbish collection, which will increase to 119 euros per ton despite election promises that it would be reduced.

It was the third highest increase in this charge since 1994.
During her speech in the Council's meeting, the councillor for the Environment, Catalina Julve, said that the increase was justified by numerous technical reports, and an “inaccurate” forecast of the amount of rubbish arriving at the incineration plant during the year.

Julve said that the cost of the incinerator was only 23 percent of the total charge for rubbish collection and disposal, as the rest was related to other matters.

She added that “a good quality service” is costly, although she did say she would like to see this charge reduced next year.
The councillor explained that the charges were based on reports by the concessionary company Tirme, which were later reviewed by Council of Majorca experts.

Julve also mentioned that the recycling programme and its cost, economic pressure on the Council of Majorca, and the land rented from Palma council for the construction of other infrastructures had also contributed to the increase in the charge. “The cost of protecting the environment is not free”, she said.

For his part, the spokesperson for the Partido Popular (PP) on the Council, Jaume Font, accused the Socialists of not keeping their electoral promises about the increase in the charge as, according to Font's recollection, the President of the Council of Majorca, Francina Armengol, had promised to reduce the rubbish collection charge during her election campaign.

He also accused the ruling parties on the Council of an “intolerable” increase in this charge. According to Font, in towns where there is no heavy industry, there will be citizens who will suffer the consequences of this rise, and recommended that the Council “review how the system works”, as, according to him, in Catalonia the price of this service is 18 euros per ton. “We propose to the President that she withdraws the increase and we will talk about different proposals”, he said.
During the meeting the representative from the Balearic Towns Association, Jaume Crespi, expressed the “concern” of the association about the increase in the charge, saying that it was “illogical” that a matter such as the price of rubbish treatment could not be decided amongst the Mayors of the different towns.

He said that the meeting of Majorcan Mayors would be taking place on October 15, and asked Armengol to withdraw the increase until after this meeting so that the Mayors could consider this rise.