The municipality of Aigües, located less than two kilometers from the El Campello waste plant, expresses its opposition to the planned expansion for a new landfill cell. Mayor Emilio Solbes has criticized statements by Jose Ramón González de Zárate, president of Consorci Mare, who asserted that the expansion would proceed "meeting all parameters" and as a right for the citizens of Marina Alta and Baixa.
Consorci Mare manages waste from 52 municipalities, serving over 427,000 citizens. Solbes finds it "surprising" how emphatically the expansion has been announced, as if the opinion of affected residents was unimportant. The socialist councilor laments that while millions in investments are discussed, "no one seems to remember the rights of the residents of Aigües," who live "every day" with the consequences of the facility.
The Aigües Town Council has denounced the "silence" from Consorci Mare for months, despite requests for meetings, information, and the submission of objections. "Not one meeting. Not one explanation. Not the slightest gesture of institutional respect towards our neighbors," Solbes lamented. The mayor points out that nuisances, such as odors, are a "constant and repeated complaint" indicating that "something is not working as well as some pretend to believe".
Solbes demands "respect" for the residents and the town, which "deserves to be heard" before decisions are made about its future. He also questions Consorci's refusal to engage in dialogue with those who "will suffer its consequences most closely," if they are so convinced of the expansion's benefits.
FCC's proposal involves a new landfill cell covering 70,972 square meters, capable of holding 1.72 million cubic meters of waste, equivalent to eight football fields. This expansion has sparked resident rejection not only in El Campello but also in Aigües, where the Independent Platform of Aigües (PIA) has been formed to oppose the expansion.
