The future of waste management in Ibiza and Formentera is at the center of the debate. With the Ca Na Putxa landfill approaching its maximum capacity, the Platform ¡Hay Soluciones! has called for an urgent solution to prevent the island from running out of space for its garbage. Their proposal is clear: rule out the construction of an incinerator in Ibiza and move the rejection fraction to Mallorca, where there is an infrastructure already prepared for it.
The Balearic Government has been optimistic about the possibility of resolving the conflict between the Consell de Ibiza and the Consell de Mallorca in a short time. However, so far, Mallorca has refused to receive Ibiza’s waste to incinerate it in Son Reus, which leaves a viable solution to the problem up in the air. The spokesman of the Executive, Antoni Costa, pointed out in the last press conference after the Consell de Govern that the solution must come from the island institutions themselves.
While the Consell de Ibiza is looking for an alternative to avoid the saturation of the Ca Na Putxa landfill, Mallorca has reiterated its refusal to receive waste from the Pitiusas Islands for incineration in Son Reus, generating a disagreement that still has no clear solution.
Costa has recognized that the situation in Ibiza is “very serious” and that the landfill has an “expiration date”, so it is urgent to find a viable solution. However, the Govern has chosen not to intervene directly, urging both councils to reach an agreement.
Despite the tension between the parties, the Autonomous Executive hopes that the conflict will be resolved soon, although without specifying what alternatives could be implemented in case a consensus is not reached. In the meantime, the lack of space at Ca Na Putxa remains an imminent problem, making it necessary to define a clear strategy to avoid an environmental crisis in Ibiza.
What to do with the waste?
The debate centers on what to do with the reject fraction, i.e., the non-recyclable waste that currently ends up in the landfill. According to the Platform, the most efficient way forward would be to transfer this waste to the TIRME energy recovery plant in Mallorca, which already has the necessary infrastructure and operates at less than full capacity for much of the year.
For some time now, residents of nearby towns such as Jesús, Roca Llisa, Can Furnet, Cala Llonga and Talamanca have expressed their concern about the environmental and social impacts derived from the decisions taken regarding waste management.
Now, with the pressure of the State Waste Plan, which demands a reduction in the amount of waste destined for landfills, the Consell de Ibiza and the Balearic Government must define the treatment model to be followed.
Waste shipment to Majorca, a viable and efficient option
The TIRME incinerator in Mallorca, in operation for more than 20 years, was designed as part of a regional solution for waste management in the Balearic Islands. According to the ¡Hay Soluciones! Platform, its use would avoid the high economic and environmental cost of building a new incinerator in Ibiza, optimizing existing facilities.
The argument in favor of waste transfer is based on several factors. Currently, different fractions of recyclable waste, such as glass, paper and packaging, are already transported to Mallorca and the mainland. In addition, in the past, the TIRME plant has received imported waste from other countries, such as Ireland and Italy, for energy recovery. If this infrastructure has been able to receive external waste, why could not assume the fraction rejection of Ibiza and Formentera, raise from the Platform .
However, the opposition of Pedro Bestard (VOX), Conseller of Environment of the Consell de Mallorca, has generated controversy. Bestard has distanced himself from the position of other representatives of his party in Ibiza, who consider this option viable. For the Platform, this refusal lacks technical argumentation and responds more to a political position than to criteria of efficiency in waste management.
The Govern and the key role in the regional strategy
The general director of Circular Economy, Energy Transition and Climate Change of the Balearic Government, Diego Viu, has pointed out that the Government must adopt a regional approach to waste management. In a recent speech in the Balearic Parliament, he insisted on the need to coordinate efforts with the island councils and bet on sustainable solutions aligned with European guidelines.
This vision fits with the Platform’s proposal, which insists that the Balearic Islands has the opportunity to become a reference model in efficient waste management. The European Union recommends prioritizing the use of existing infrastructures rather than building new plants, and the incinerator in Mallorca meets the required standards in terms of energy recovery.
The Consell de Ibiza, for its part, has commissioned a technical study to the company IDOM to evaluate the different options available for the treatment of the rejection fraction. The Platform has demanded that this report be published as soon as possible and that a process of public participation in decision-making be guaranteed.
The clock is ticking
One of the critical points of the debate is the time factor. In less than five years, Ca Na Putxa could reach its limit and the administrations have not yet made a firm decision on what to do with the rejection fraction. While the Platform defends the option of Mallorca, the delay in the decision-making process generates uncertainty about the future of waste management in Ibiza and Formentera.
The Consell de Ibiza raised the possibility of opening a process of citizen participation, but has not yet established specific deadlines. The Platform considers that the time for debate is running out and that it is necessary to adopt a clear position based on technical and economic criteria, without politics blocking viable solutions.
The upcoming visit of the president of the Balearic Government, Marga Prohens, to Ibiza between February 15 and 17, will be a key opportunity for the Government to take action on the matter. The Platform has requested a meeting with her to present its arguments and demand an immediate response.
