Jeffrey, owner of the Never cocktail bar on Carrer de la Cera in Barcelona's Raval, says he has spent the past two months collecting rubbish left outside buildings before opening each afternoon. The waste, he says, is affecting the approach to local venues for customers and residents in this part of Ciutat Vella, Barcelona's historic central district.

He estimates that clearing a substantial accumulation requires about four trips with a trolley to the bins in Plaça del Pedró. The rubbish he encounters includes bags, containers, mattresses and discarded household items, according to his account to El Periódico Barcelona.

“Almost every day, when there is a mountain of dirt, I take the trolley to remove the rubbish.”

Jeffrey said he cleans around Never and neighbouring businesses before service, but that waste soon reappears. He also said he has seen cockroaches and large rats near the accumulations, and uses bleach on his stretch of the street to reduce the smell.

Five businesses raise collection concerns

Five businesses on Carrer de la Cera and Carrer de la Botella, including the nearby Cera 23 restaurant, have complained to Barcelona City Council in recent months that rubbish collections were insufficient, Jeffrey said.

  • Works between Carrer de la Riereta and Carrer de Carretes prevent larger cleaning vehicles from using the area, the council said.
  • The city council said it has reorganised cleaning with smaller vehicles.
  • Summer timetable changes, intended to avoid cleaning staff working in the hottest hours, can also affect service performance, it added.

Cleaning-service managers have recently committed to increasing the frequency of cleaning on Carrer de la Cera, following the businesses' complaints. A cleaning worker told El Periódico Barcelona that staff had been instructed to clean the street more often.

Residents asked not to leave waste outside bins

A resident identified as Hocine said rubbish is often already piled near his entrance by 8pm or 9pm, and becomes worse later in the evening. He said bins had previously been closer to the area.

Barcelona City Council says rubbish must not be left outside containers in the Raval. Residents and businesses should place waste in the available containers rather than depositing bags or bulky items on Carrer de la Cera.

Reported by El Periódico Barcelona, fortwo.es, particle.news.