In El Prat de Llobregat, just south of Barcelona, residents and businesses will pay less for waste collection in 2026 after the municipal plenary approved an average 15% cut to the charge for homes and commercial premises. The reduction applies from 1 January 2026, although the lower amount will appear on bills issued in the last quarter of the year.
The council says the cut follows one year of using smart waste containers, along with changes in service costs and subsidies. It says the savings are being passed on to users. For more Barcelona-area council coverage, see our Community page.
According to the council, the smart container rollout has improved recycling. It said organic waste rose by 71%, packaging by 113% and paper by 34%, while mixed residual waste in the grey bin fell by 21%.
Those changes matter because the council said treating organic waste costs 60 euros per tonne, while treating residual waste costs 120 euros per tonne. It also said El Prat’s waste fee is already among the lowest in nearby municipalities. Households and businesses that recycle can also receive a 40% discount on the charge.
The council said municipalities in Spain with more than 5,000 residents had to introduce this fee by April 2025 if they did not already have one. Readers can check the official municipal notice at El Prat council, and BARNA’s Source Transparency page explains how we use official material.
People who want to see how the revised charge and recycling discounts affect their bill will need to wait for invoices issued in the last quarter of 2026.
