The Environmental Area of the City Council of Valdepeñas has once again reiterated its complaint against illegal dumps and the incivility of some citizens who throw items such as mattresses, refrigerators, televisions, or sofas on roads and rural areas.
These are not sporadic dumps, as the Councilor for the Environment, Gregorio Sánchez Yébenes, has been denouncing these behaviors that affect different areas such as the Ratón path, curiously located just a few meters from the Clean Point, where the uncivilized individuals dump all kinds of waste, which the recovery group removes periodically.
Sánchez Yébenes has emphasized the joint effort and the importance of the work of the Local Police and the Environmental Agents of this local administration in identifying infractions and raising citizen awareness. «In the last year, there have been over 50 administrative proceedings of this nature, with proposals for sanctions for non-compliance with the Municipal Ordinance or state regulations on waste. This unit has been essential in controlling and penalizing practices that harm the natural environment, including dumping waste classified as hazardous, which poses a danger to the environment, human health, or natural resources,» he stressed.
Therefore, the City Council of Valdepeñas continues to work on its commitment to sustainability and the fight against illegal dumping, with the implementation of an awareness campaign and the intensification of surveillance to combat uncontrolled dumping and the abandonment of waste in natural and urban spaces. He has pointed out that «these actions have led to the removal of over 60 tons of scattered waste in different areas of the municipality, destined for a Management Center for treatment, making a significant contribution to the environment’s recovery.»
He has warned that these behaviors constitute a violation of regulations, which can result in fines of up to 6,000 euros as stipulated in the Municipal Ordinance, and up to 100,000 euros as established in the Waste and Contaminated Soils Law. Likewise, offenders could incur criminal offenses for environmental crimes.
Similarly, the Deputy Mayor of the Environment has announced that the City Council has issued a municipal decree signed by the Mayor, Jesús Martín, requiring owners of urban and rural plots in the municipality to carry out clearing, cleaning, and improvement tasks before June 1, the start of the high fire risk season. From that date, the Local Police and Environmental agents will increase surveillance to ensure compliance by property owners, with the possibility of opening sanctioning proceedings in cases of non-compliance.
Available Services
Sánchez Yébenes has emphasized the obligation of companies and individuals to manage industrial and construction waste through authorized managers: Recovery Group, Ecopoints, and Clean Point – an accessible and free alternative.
To prevent illegal dumping, he has highlighted the various resources allocated annually by the municipality of 230,000 euros. The Clean Point, located on the Ratón path, allows free deposit of waste generated by individuals, excluding industrial waste. In the summer, from May 1 to September 14, the opening hours are from 9:00 to 13:00 and from 18:00 to 20:30 from Monday to Friday, and from 9:30 to 13:30 on Saturdays and Sundays. In the districts of Consolación and El Peral, Ecopoints are periodically available, which are mobile clean points where citizens can deposit the same waste as in a Clean Point.
Additionally, for bulky waste or in case of not being able to transport it with appropriate vehicles, there is a free home collection service for citizens by calling 696 915 564.
In case of any illegal dumping, citizens are reminded that they can report it to the Environmental Area through telephone 926 32 92 00, ext 325/326 or through the emergency hotline numbers of the Local Police: 112 and 926 32 92 00, extension 7, as well as in person at municipal offices.