The challenge of waste management in Maspalomas takes on a strategic dimension during peak tourist season, when each tourist can generate up to two kilograms of waste per day. Added to the usual pressure of consumption is the high occupancy rate in southern Gran Canaria, a scenario that demands robust and efficient infrastructure capable of absorbing peak waste generation without compromising the environment or the quality of the destination. In this context, the modernization of the island's waste management system is becoming a key component of Maspalomas' sustainability model.
In parallel with the seasonal increase in waste, PreZero, Ayagaures Medio Ambiente, and the Gran Canaria Island Council have completed a crucial project at the Gran Canaria South Ecopark, located in Juan Grande. The completed works more than triple the treatment capacity for separately collected municipal organic waste, consolidating a structural advance towards a true circular economy on the island and reinforcing the environmental support of the main tourist hub in the south.
The facility is taking a significant leap forward, both quantitatively and qualitatively: it has increased its annual treatment capacity from 8.000 tons to an estimated 29.242 tons per year with the commissioning of a new biological treatment line. The expansion incorporates advanced pretreatment technologies—automatic bag opening, magnetic separation of ferrous materials, and a rotary trommel for the removal of contaminants—that improve the efficiency and quality of the process from the very source of the waste.
Along with the increased organic waste collection, the South Ecopark incorporates a specific line for the collection and sorting of light waste, aimed at maximizing the recovery of recyclable materials and minimizing the environmental impact in an area particularly sensitive to windblown waste dispersal. This is a key factor for the south of the island and for Maspalomas, where urban cleanliness and environmental management are integral to the competitive advantage of this tourist destination.
With this modernization, the Gran Canaria South Ecopark is consolidated as a strategic infrastructure for the modern, efficient, and sustainable management of the island's waste. In a context of intensive consumption—especially during Christmas and peak season—the improved treatment ensures that the efforts of citizens and tourists to recycle have industrial support commensurate with the challenge, reinforcing Maspalomas' position as a benchmark for sustainable tourism in the Canary Islands.
