Alejandro Marichal: "We are embarking on a new era in waste management. We are implementing a modern, clean, sustainable model that is on par with our neighbors."
Ruyman Cardoso: "More containers, more collection routes, and more human and material resources will significantly improve recycling efficiency in all neighborhoods."
The San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council has awarded Ayagaures Medioambiente SLU the new contract for the selective collection of light packaging and paper/cardboard, for a total amount of €4.873.250,26 until 2028. The agreement, approved today in an extraordinary plenary session, includes the complete renovation of the container system, as well as a modern fleet and advanced technology to guarantee the efficiency of the service.
Ruyman Cardoso, Councilor for Cleaning (CC), emphasized "three major advances that will completely transform the experience citizens have when depositing waste in the yellow and blue containers: there will be more containers, all in perfect condition; a fleet of modern, state-of-the-art vehicles will be incorporated to ensure more efficient and continuous collection; and control technology will be implemented to allow for much more effective and transparent management of the service."
"These changes represent a qualitative leap that leaves behind an outdated model and represents an improvement of more than 100% compared to the previous service, doubling its efficiency and operational capacity," he added.
One of the most visible improvements will be the addition of 560 new containers (280 for packaging and 280 for paper/cardboard), compared to the 380 previously in operation. This represents a 47,37% increase in collection capacity, allowing for greater coverage in neighborhoods, commercial areas, and tourist areas. This will reduce overcrowding at current points and facilitate access to recycling for all citizens.
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The award was approved in plenary session with the abstention of the PSOE political group.
From an obsolete system to an efficient fleet of our own
The service has been operating under an expired contract since 2017 and was operating within parameters defined in 2010. In that year (2010), recyclable waste production was just 7,1 kilos per person (annually). By 2025, that figure has skyrocketed to 27,9 kilos per inhabitant per year, overwhelming a system that had been using the same resources for more than 15 years. Furthermore, in recent months, acts of vandalism have burned more than 25 containers, further exacerbating an already precarious situation.
Faced with this reality, the new contractor will deploy its own modern fleet, sized to meet the municipality's current needs. The contract includes side-loading trucks, support vehicles, cleaning vans, and even high-pressure cleaners for regular cleaning of containers. All of this will be supported by an in-house workshop and a spare parts warehouse available from day one, ensuring a rapid response and continuous service.
This transformation represents not only a 100% improvement in resource availability—from having no fleet of its own to a fully operational one—but also an estimated 150% increase in logistics capacity, enabling faster, more efficient, and seamless service.
"With this new contract, the Department of Cleaning puts an end to this imbalance and provides the municipality with a service tailored to today's real needs, not those of 15 years ago," Cardoso concluded. "More containers, more collection routes, and more human and material resources will significantly improve collection and recycling efficiency in all neighborhoods."
Another key innovation will be the incorporation of sensor technology in the containers, which will allow real-time monitoring of their fill level. The Department of Cleaning will be able to monitor the status of the service, which will facilitate smarter route planning, reduce incidents, and improve overall efficiency.
First Deputy Mayor Alejandro Marichal congratulated the municipal team led by his colleague Ruyman Cardoso and celebrated the progress made. "We are beginning a new era in waste management. This contract not only solves the legacy problems but also implements a modern, clean, sustainable selective collection model that is at the level of our citizens."
At the same plenary session, the award of Lot 2—corresponding to the supply and collection of textile waste and used cooking oil—to the company Ecatar Canarias SLU, for an amount of €398.369,36 until 2028, was also approved.
This contract has a distinctly social character, as it has been reserved exclusively for Special Social Initiative Employment Centers and Integration Companies, in accordance with current legislation. This arrangement not only ensures proper management of particularly polluting waste but also promotes the employment of people with disabilities.
SEGGIS Agreement
The plenary session also unanimously approved the adoption of the agreement signed between the Ministry of Social Rights and the Government of the Canary Islands for the implementation of the SEGISS computer system. This agreement will modernize the management of municipal Social Services through more effective digital tools, facilitating data collection and analysis, improving user service, and optimizing the use of public resources. This measure represents an important step toward more streamlined, personalized, and transparent service for citizens.
