The brown bin reached 999,700 kilos between January and June 2026, an 11.2% increase compared to the previous year. The City Council is consolidating the separation of organic matter in the districts where it is implemented.
The City Council of Santa Cruz de Tenerife has recorded a new advance in the selective collection of organic waste during the first half of 2026. Between January and June, the brown bin accumulated 999,700 kilos of organic matter, representing an increase of 11.2% compared to the 899,380 kilos from the same period in 2025.
The data, provided by the Public Services department, confirms that the citizens of the districts where this system is operational are responding progressively. The organic fraction is considered one of the most important for improving recycling rates and advancing towards a circular economy, as it allows for the transformation of waste into compost and other valuable products.
The Mayor of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, José Manuel Bermúdez, has positively assessed the evolution. "The consolidation of the brown bin demonstrates that citizens respond when they have the right means to properly separate their waste," he noted, adding that "continuing to increase the collection of organic waste is a priority because it represents one of the greatest environmental challenges for cities."
For his part, the first deputy mayor and councillor for Public Services, Carlos Tarife, detailed that April was the month with the highest collection volume, with 175,560 kilos, followed by March, with 174,260 kilos, and January, with 170,080 kilos. "During all the months analysed, over 150 tonnes were collected, which shows that the use of the brown bin is gradually consolidating," explained Tarife.
Organic matter is one of the fractions with the greatest recovery potential within municipal waste. Its proper separation not only allows for compost production but also helps reduce emissions resulting from the disposal of biodegradable waste in landfills, a key aspect for meeting the environmental objectives set by European and national regulations.
The organic collection service is currently implemented in the Centro-Ifara and Salud-La Salle districts, where residents have specific brown bins. The implementation has been progressively expanded, and the City Council encourages citizens in these areas to request the free kit to facilitate separation at source.
Interested individuals can obtain the free organic kit at the Citizen Attention Office of the cleaning service, located in Plaza Hermanos Curtidos Dorta. The city council reminds that this initiative aims to facilitate citizen participation and consolidate sustainable recycling habits in the municipality.
The evolution of selective collection in Santa Cruz de Tenerife reflects a positive trend that has been observed since the brown bin was launched. Although there is still room for improvement, the data from the first half of 2026 indicates that citizens are increasingly adopting the separation of organic waste as a regular practice.
The 11.2% increase occurs in a context where local administrations are seeking to reduce the amount of waste ending up in landfills and promote valorisation. In this regard, the City Council of Santa Cruz de Tenerife has emphasised that the consolidation of organic waste is a strategic priority for the municipality.
The Public Services department insists that citizen collaboration is essential for the system to function correctly. "Every kilo of organic matter deposited in the brown bin is a kilo that does not go to the landfill and becomes a usable resource," municipal sources have stated.
The next challenge for the council will be to extend the service to other districts and maintain the growth rate of recent months. Meanwhile, residents in areas where it is already operational can continue using the brown bins and find out how to obtain the free kit at the municipal office.
The collection of organic waste is just one part of the municipal strategy to improve waste management, which also includes the collection of packaging, paper, and glass. With this data, Santa Cruz de Tenerife is moving towards becoming a more sustainable city committed to the environment.
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