Adeje Town Hall has launched a new campaign with increased fines to try and stop the illegal dumping and discarding of rubbish and waste from construction, refurbishment work carried out by companies, or gardening and pruning remains.
To monitor and control the situation, various council departments, including Land Planning, Works and Services, Public Safety, and Penalties, have coordinated their efforts, and Local Police patrols will monitor specific areas identified as the main hotspots for the problem. Swift cleaning and waste collection actions are also being implemented to minimise the impact on the environment and surrounding areas.
In the last few months, the dumping of waste from construction work and gardening, such as rubble and remains of electrical or plumbing materials, has increased in areas near the Punto Limpio (main deposit), along the TF-47 road, in the municipality’s industrial zones, and in key areas of the TF-82.
Most of this waste is produced and dumped by companies working for other businesses or private clients, who then fail to comply with the regulations set out by the Canary Islands Waste Law for disposing of it.
The most recent fine was imposed on a company caught in the act by a Local Police patrol as they disposed of electrical materials right at the door of the Punto Limpio, which was closed at the time.
As the volume of waste was not significant, nor was it hazardous to the environment or people, the fine was set at the minimum, which is €3,000. However, had the waste been dangerous or harmful to health or safety, the fine could have been as much as €60,000.
The Town Hall is reminding those contracting construction, refurbishment, or cleaning services that companies typically charge a fee for the disposal of this waste in compliance with the law. In other words, users are paying for these tasks to be carried out correctly, even though not all companies appear to be fulfilling this obligation.
Adeje Town Hall’s aim is not to raise funds or solely issue fines but to set an example that raises awareness about the importance of respecting the environment and ending illegal dumping.
In fact, there has already been communication with Tenerife Cabildo, which manages the Punto Limpio in the municipality, to improve the facility and extend its opening hours to seven days a week, offering more options for those generating this type of waste. The relevant department of the Cabildo has been fully receptive and has already begun making these improvements.
