The Penedès-Garraf Municipalities Association (Barcelona), where the company has been present since 2000, has renewed its trust in FCC Medio Ambiente with the award of the new contract for the waste collection and transport service from the 27 municipalities in the Penedès and Garraf regions. The order book value amounts to €87.7 million for the next eight years.

In line with the company's commitment to technological innovation and sustainability, one of the most significant changes is the introductino of electronic locks on containers with side and double-sided loading, with the creation of ten enclosed waste disposal areas, with the aim of promoting the sorting of waste at source and reducing the amount of residual waste, in accordance with European regulations. 

To serve the 270,000 inhabitants and collect the more than 52,000 tonnes of waste produced annually by the association, the company counts on a workforce of 84 people, 43 newly acquired vehicles and over 3,700 new containers. The environmental sustainability of the contract is particularly important, with the inclusion of electric and hybrid units in the vehicle fleet and the addition of a second facility that will improve the overall level of emissions and reduce consumption in the service facilities as a whole, all of which demonstrates the commitment of the company and the association to care for the environment and sustainable development.

With the aim of making sorting waste at source easier for all residents, the contract introduces numerous new features: the implementation of commercial collection for large producers in 22 municipalities and door-to-door collection in two municipalities; the addition of a mobile container area in the centre of Vilafranca del Penedès, most populated municipality in the association; door-to-door collection of vegetable and pruning waste and an improvement in the efficiency of bulky waste collection. The service also includes the transport of waste from the composting plant to the transfer plant for organic material that is not suitable for composting.

In order to promote public awareness and to involve the population in caring for their environment, a dedicated team of 15 environmental educators will be formed to publicise the implementation of the new service and all its new features. In addition, a collaboration agreement will be signed with a local Special Employment Centre for the outsourcing of personnel for door-to-door bulky waste collection.

Image by the Mancomunitat Penedès-Garraf.