July 24, 2025

Catalonia to close 13 landfills in 10 years

THE CHALLENGE OF MOVING TOWARDS ZERO WASTE

 

The Catalan Government has announced an ambitious waste management plan: to close 13 of the 25 municipal landfills over the next 10 years, reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill from 31% to 10%.

This change is a key element in the decarbonization strategy and in meeting the European Union’s recycling and circular economy targets.

However, the challenge is enormous. Is Catalonia ready to take this leap towards a more sustainable and competitive model?

A more circular waste management model

To achieve these objectives, Catalonia will need to accelerate its transition towards recycling and waste recovery, increasing from the current 40% recycling rate to the 55% required by EU regulations by 2030.

Some key measures include:

  • Expansion of recycling and composting infrastructure: construction of 2 new organic waste treatment plants (in Barcelona and Girona) and modernization of the 25 existing ones.

  • Treatment of 100% of residual waste, with 7 new facilities in strategic areas such as Tarragona, Manresa, or La Seu d’Urgell.

  • Controlled increase in waste incineration, up to 25%, by optimizing the 4 existing plants without building new ones.

  • Promotion of reuse: creation of a network of 500 exchange centers to give a second life to items such as sports equipment, books, or appliances.
    (A similar model is already in place in local initiatives like La Trocalleria in Rubí.)

What does this mean for businesses and citizens?

With fewer landfills, the waste we generate becomes more visible.
Both businesses and citizens will need to change how they consume, produce, and dispose of waste:

For businesses and SMEs:

  • Adopt circular packaging and compostable materials (such as Solubag), reducing dependence on single-use plastics.

  • Optimize production processes to generate less waste and improve reverse logistics.

  • Invest in circular economy solutions such as repair, reuse, and energy recovery from industrial waste.

  • Comply with stricter regulations on waste management and carbon footprint.

For citizens:

  • Separate and recycle properly, improving the efficiency of selective collection systems.

  • Choose responsible consumption: reusable products, repair instead of discard, donate or exchange.

  • Participate in local circular economy projects and reuse communities.

(If you want to learn how to implement these changes, check out our article on how to reduce your company’s environmental impact.)

The risk of inaction

Closing landfills without a deep shift in the waste management system could overwhelm treatment plants and increase costs.
In countries like Germany or Sweden, the model works because there is environmental education, investment in clean technologies, and advanced recycling strategies.

If Catalonia does not speed up the implementation of new facilities, there is a risk of illegal landfills or exporting waste to other countries — as already happens with plastic.

Catalonia faces a historic opportunity

This plan is not just a legal obligation: it is an economic opportunity to create green jobs, modernize the waste management system, and lead the transition to a circular economy in Southern Europe.

It’s not just about closing landfills but about transforming our consumption, production, and recycling model.

Want to know how your company can adapt to the new waste regulations and become more sustainable?

At Wegsco, we help SMEs and industries design circular economy solutions, self-consumption energy systems, and sustainable materials.