Formentera’s new organic waste containers will operate using an electronic access card system, allowing the Island Council to record which users dispose of their waste. Every household will receive its own card, although the service is not expected to launch until January 2027, several months later than originally planned.
The Island’s Councillor for the Environment, Verónica Castelló, explained that the system is already included in the contract, but the card readers have yet to be installed due to delays in manufacturing and supply.
«Every household will have its own card to open and close the containers, allowing us to keep a record of the users who make use of these facilities», Castelló explained.
The process will work in much the same way as the island’s bus travel cards: the Island Council will invite residents to collect their cards when the new service becomes operational.
A €938,000 Waste Collection Project
In January, the Formentera Island Council awarded the contract to Nord Engineering Global España SL for the supply and installation of 85 containers — 60 above-ground units and 25 underground containers — at a total cost of €937,768.76.
Installation work began in April, with organic waste collection originally scheduled to start at the beginning of summer. Following several postponements, Castelló acknowledged the delays during the October plenary session and set January as the new target date.
The installation of the electronic readers is not the only outstanding issue. The waste collection contract must also be amended to allow organic waste to be transported to Ibiza.
In August, Ibiza’s Island Council confirmed that its facilities were ready to receive the material, with a dedicated pit prepared specifically for this fifth waste fraction.
CCTV Cameras Planned for Illegal Dumping Hotspots
Separately, Formentera’s Island Council is preparing to install surveillance cameras at some of the island’s most problematic waste collection points, marking the first time this type of monitoring system will be introduced on the island.
The cameras are intended to tackle cases in which people leave rubbish outside the designated containers, particularly bulky items and household waste.
The locations currently being considered include the road to Es Cap, Cala en Baster and Porto-salè.
Castelló said the necessary documentation is being finalised ahead of the tender process for the camera installation. The aim is to have the surveillance system up and running during the first four months of 2027.