Juan Cabrera says Antigua’s new cleaning service will start on 1 December and assures residents: “No one here will pay more than €30” in waste charges

Antigua Mayor Juan Cabrera has announced that the new street-cleaning and waste collection service will begin operating on 1 December, with more staff, vehicles and collection rounds. He has also assured residents that “no one here will pay more than €30” in waste charges.

In an interview with La Voz de Fuerteventura, the mayor acknowledged that the current service has deteriorated and that complaints from residents and businesses have increased. He also highlighted progress in the local council’s management, which has enabled it to renew the contracts for cleaning public spaces and collecting waste, worth €9.4 million, and for cleaning municipal buildings, recently awarded for a further €2.09 million.

New cleaning service from 1 December

The new street-cleaning and waste collection contract, approved unanimously at a full council meeting on 24 September, is worth €9,442,519.95 over four years. It has been awarded to the joint venture formed by FCC Equal CEE Canarias, FCC Medio Ambiente and Capross 2004.

Planned improvements include 100 additional containers beyond those required in the tender documents, new vehicles and an expanded workforce. According to the mayor’s forecasts, staffing will rise from 15 workers to around 35. Collection rounds in Caleta de Fuste will also be increased, with services in the morning and at night.

Cabrera explained that the successful bidder had two months to start work, but that steps taken by the local council had made it possible to bring the start date forward.

“This gives us an absolute guarantee that the new service can start on 1 December,” he said after meeting the company’s representative in the Canary Islands.

The mayor expects the improvements to become noticeable during December and to be consolidated in the first few months of operation.

The award follows the recent approval, also unanimously at the 5 November council meeting, of a €2.09 million contract to clean municipal buildings, completing the renewal of both services.

No controversy over Antigua’s waste charge

The waste collection charge has become one of the most contentious issues in local politics on Fuerteventura following significant increases in several municipalities, including La Oliva and Puerto del Rosario. Residents, business owners and some political groups have voiced their opposition.

The updated charges have been justified on the basis of requirements under European regulations and Spain’s Law 7/2022, which requires local authorities to set a specific, separate and non-deficit waste charge reflecting the cost of collecting, transporting and treating waste.

Amid the controversy, Juan Cabrera defended Antigua Town Council’s financial management and said the municipality would not increase its waste charge, despite the renewal of the cleaning and waste collection service.

“Without a doubt, no one here will pay more than €30 for rubbish collection,” he said firmly.

The mayor said he had received calls from residents of other municipalities wanting to know whether he would keep the current rates.

Cabrera defended the decision as part of his commitment to preventing a greater financial burden on Antigua’s residents.

“I have to look after my people, I have to look after those who pay taxes in this municipality, so that they pay less, if possible,” he said.

Cabrera acknowledges “more neglect” and a rise in complaints

The mayor acknowledged that cleaning in the municipality still has shortcomings and linked some of the problem to the fact that the company currently providing the service was not awarded the new contract. “In recent weeks we have seen more neglect, more complaints from residents and more complaints from businesses,” he said.

According to Cabrera, the outgoing company knows it will not continue providing the service and, in his view, is avoiding further investment in an ageing vehicle fleet.

Cabrera also referred to complaints from the Asociación de Empresarios del Castillo and said the local council had spoken with the outgoing company in an attempt to improve the service temporarily until the handover takes place.

Although he acknowledged some progress, he admitted it was still insufficient. “There has been an improvement, but it is not the improvement we want,” he concluded.