The Council of Santa Cruz de Tenerife has notified residents that the voluntary payment period for the new waste collection and treatment fee will not begin until September. Currently, there is no obligation to pay the fee.
The payment window will remain open until November, allowing residents enough time to understand the exact amount owed, address any issues, and, if necessary, request payment in instalments.
This fee introduction aligns with the enforcement of Law 7/2022 on waste and contaminated soils for a circular economy, which mandates all Spanish municipalities to adjust their regulations and implement a new fee calculation system.
The new regulations take into account factors such as the property’s cadastral value and the number of registered residents, leading to varying fees based on individual housing characteristics.
Mayor José Manuel Bermúdez remarked that the Council is required to enforce a state regulation with which it disagrees in both its approach and timelines. He noted, “For over fifteen years, we have maintained a fiscal policy focused on controlling or even reducing municipal taxes. This measure disrupts that line, but our priority is to ease its implementation and minimise the impact on families.”
Bermúdez highlighted that Santa Cruz has kept waste fees among the lowest in the country for over a decade and assured that the Council will continue to seek ways to lessen the financial burden stemming from the new law. “We will implement as many discounts as possible to ensure this law impacts our residents as little as possible,” he added.
Councillor for Finance, José Alberto Díaz-Estébanez, stated that the payment timeline adjustment aims to facilitate the process for residents. “We’ve postponed the voluntary payment period to September so taxpayers have more time to understand their exact fees, resolve any questions, and plan for payments calmly,” he explained.
To reduce the effects of the new regulations, the Council is working to offer various discounts based on different factors, including families’ socioeconomic situations, the distance from homes to refuse containers, and specific property uses.
Additionally, residents can begin arranging direct debit for the 2027 fee and benefit from a 5% discount for taxes set up for direct debit.
The new fee has not been automatically applied to those already using direct debit for other municipal taxes, as the law requires individual notification due to the substantial modification of the tax.
Further details about the fee, including payment deadlines, discounts, and available support channels, can be found on official municipal websites, where residents can also address any inquiries or conduct necessary procedures.
