Mazarrón council begins clearing Camposol green waste areas after possible arson attacks
A firefighters’ report has stated that the recent fires could be the work of arsonists
The Camposol green waste disposal area on B Sector has begun to be cleared, in what is the first phase of a Mazarrón Town Council commitment to rid these areas of years of accumulated rubbish.
A subcontracted cleaning crew supervised by the Mazarrón Town Council began clearing the B Sector garden waste area this Wednesday July 16.
It comes a week after the first of two fires in separate green waste areas on different sectors of the Camposol urbanisation.
Sources in the town hall revealed that police are working on the hypothesis that the recent fires, which burnt through over 1,000m2 of land, may have been lit deliberately, based on a report of the situation by fire investigation crews.
Just over a year ago, the B Sector green waste area itself was also the scene of a fire. Thankfully, none of these blazes have led to loss of life or property.
Councillor for Camposol Carmen Navarro, Councillor for Services Tomás Ureña and the contractor from the recycling centre Lorenzo Fuente Fuente were there to oversee the start of the clearance work this Wednesday morning.
This clean-up is part of a long-standing promise by the council to clear the green waste areas, which had stood neglected for years and in the meantime had become a dumping ground for more than just green waste, with people from Camposol and beyond regularly leaving furniture, appliances and other assorted waste there.
Camposol residents are taking an active role in ensuring the Town Hall sticks to its promise, providing assistance and support where needed so that the green waste areas can finally be cleared up for good.
As well as moving the waste off site, the council has also pledged to improve signage to tell people exactly what waste should and shouldn’t be left there, and also to install CCTV to ensure compliance with the rules, not to mention capture any potential arsonists.
In fact, the surveillance cameras have already been installed and will be connected to begin working imminently. In addition, the signage will be erected in the next few days giving information in multiple languages that this site can no longer be used for disposal of any types of waste including garden waste, building waste, furniture, domestic appliances etc.
The sign will also indicate that the site is under video surveillance and offenders can expect to be fined with the amounts extending into the thousands of euros. Any of the non-gardening waste mentioned above should be taken to the Eco Parque.
Mazarrón Council will also be happy to collect old furniture, beds, domestic appliance and other large items. All you have to do is phone 0034 968 333 294 to arrange pick-up.
While work has started to clear one of the green waste sites, however, it is expected to take a very long time indeed. Workers have already carried off two full lorryloads from the B Sector site and have barely made a dent.
The waste will now have to be taken to the processing plant in Totana to be sorted and composted. When the B Sector site is all cleared, it is expected that they will move on to begin clearing another different dump, but that could take quite a while.
In order to speed things up and cater for all the waste issues in the municipality, plans are in place for the construction of a biomethane plant to be located just north of Camposol.
However, that project will still need to obtain an operating licence, which is a lengthy process and not without its own controversies. If and when that happens, it will be another 22 months, approximately, until the site can be opened and functioning.
Biomethane plants are are solution to green waste accumulation and are a source of renewable energy, but they can also be smelly and can run the risk of byproduct leakage. It is also as yet unclear whether or not that biomethane plant would be processing gardening waste, or just agricultural waste.
For now, Camposol residents can at least be assured that, slowly but surely, the unsightly and dangerous garden waste areas will be taken care of over the coming months and years. Hopefully, there will be no more fires before then, or at least nothing too serious and harmful to the local community.
For more local news, events and other information go to the home page of Camposol Today or join the Camposol Today Facebook page
Sign up for the Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin and get an email with all the week’s news straight to your inbox
Special offer: Subscribe now for 25% off (36.95 euros for 48 Bulletins)
OR
you can sign up to our FREE weekly roundup!
Read some of our recent bulletins:
Discount Special Offer subscription:
36.95€ for 48 Editor’s Weekly News Roundup bulletins!
Please CLICK THE BUTTON to subscribe.
(List price 3 months 12 Bulletins)
Read more stories from around Spain:
