The Carmel neighbourhood in Barcelona’s Horta-Guinardó district faced ongoing waste collection issues on Thursday 12 November, with residents reporting that rubbish remained uncollected in streets across the area.
Despite municipal cleaning services resuming citywide operations after the 24-hour general strike on Wednesday 11 November, Carmel residents said by mid-morning that large accumulations of black bags and refuse were still present, particularly near public waste containers and residential entrances.
The strike, called by unions UGT and CCOO over wages and housing affordability, disrupted public services across Barcelona, including transport and waste management. Under a city council decree, minimum services were maintained between 10 pm on Tuesday 10 November and 10 pm on Wednesday 11 November, with cleaning operations limited to emergencies and safety-related tasks.
According to the Barcelona City Council, the Cuidem Barcelona cleaning service is now operating across all ten city districts, including Horta-Guinardó. The service, which employs 400 additional workers and over 870 vehicles, 67% of them electric, was designed to adapt to local needs following neighbourhood assessments.
However, no official explanation has been provided for the delay in Carmel. Residents have raised concerns about hygiene and the prolonged presence of uncollected waste, especially in areas where collection is typically daily.
Cleanliness Restoration Efforts Underway
Municipal teams are working to restore normality across Barcelona after widespread disruptions. The city council confirmed that cleaning, public lighting, parks and gardens, and pet centre services prioritised emergency interventions during the strike period.
Residents can report cleanliness issues via the cuidem.barcelona website, which offers real-time incident reporting and recycling guidance. Information campaigns have accompanied the rollout of the new service in each district.
As of 17:30 on Thursday 12 November, no timeline has been given for when full waste collection will resume in Carmel or when accumulated refuse will be cleared.
Sources: Metrópoli, Ajuntament de Barcelona, Catalan News, bbc.com.
