The Socialist Municipal Group denounces the neglect of the Community Composting Areas (ZCC) in Mirca and Velachero Street, which have gone two months without cleaning or odour control.
The Socialist Municipal Group in the Santa Cruz de La Palma City Council has urged the local government, formed by PP and CC, to urgently take over the maintenance and management of the Community Composting Areas (ZCC). They claim that these sites have not received basic cleaning, odour control, or supply of structuring material for nearly two months.
The socialists point out that complaints from residents have highlighted the deterioration of the composters in Mirca and Velachero Street. They also criticise that the third ZCC, planned for 3 de Mayo Street in the San Telmo neighbourhood, was never completed and remains stalled.
The PSOE emphasises the educational, environmental, and social value of these facilities, which allow families without gardens or allotments to manage their organic waste for free, turning it into fertiliser for their plants. "Composting is not just about disposing of waste differently: it’s about building community. It’s a tool that teaches our children the cycle of matter, promotes healthy habits, reduces the ecological footprint, and creates bonds of solidarity and good neighbourliness in our neighbourhoods," they state in a press release.
The socialists remind us that, according to data from the Waste Department of the Cabildo de La Palma, organic waste accounts for 40% of the contents of the grey bin. In a critical insular context, where the lack of space at the Los Morenos Environmental Complex forces waste to be transported to the mainland at a high economic and environmental cost, wasting organic matter is, in their view, irresponsible.
To reverse the situation, the PSOE proposes implementing a system of incentives and vouchers for local consumption, whereby the City Council would reward families who actively participate in community composting with direct discounts at local shops, based on the amount of bio-waste contributed. "Turning our bio-waste into resources is a matter of common sense; all we need is a municipal government that believes in the potential of Santa Cruz de La Palma and listens to its residents," they assert.
The neglect of the composters contrasts with the Cabildo's commitment to waste reduction. The island of La Palma is facing a waste management crisis, with the Los Morenos landfill at its capacity limit. Transporting rubbish to the mainland increases costs and carbon footprint, making initiatives like community composting a local and sustainable solution.
The socialists urge the municipal government to act urgently to prevent a total collapse of the service. Meanwhile, residents of the affected neighbourhoods continue to be unable to use the composters under optimal conditions, causing discomfort and distrust towards municipal management.
The Santa Cruz de La Palma City Council, for its part, has not yet commented on the PSOE's accusations. It is expected that in the coming days, the governing team will provide a response regarding the maintenance of the ZCC and the possible reactivation of the project on 3 de Mayo Street.
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