Commercial Waste Tax Triples in Several Barcelona Municipalities

Businesses in Viladecans and Sant Cugat del Vallès face the highest increases due to legal requirements to cover service costs.

Commercial waste containers on a street in Barcelona.
IA

Commercial waste containers on a street in Barcelona.

Municipalities across the Barcelona province implemented sharp increases in commercial waste taxes during 2025 to comply with new legal mandates regarding service costs.

Actual revenue data for 2025 shows an average increase of 30% across a dozen municipalities in the Barcelona area. Cities like Viladecans saw average bills jump from 254 euros to 794 euros, while in Sant Cugat del Vallès, the increase reached 123%, with average costs hitting 428 euros per business.

"The increase creates unease, but the commercial sector has established a negotiation table with the City Council to work together."

Mariano González · President of the Viladecans Commercial Network
In Barcelona city, the tax rose by 26.5%, bringing the average bill to 300 euros. The city council and the Barcelona Metropolitan Area (AMB) attribute these hikes to a law requiring municipalities to pass 100% of service costs onto waste producers, ending subsidies previously covered by property taxes (IBI).

"It is a disgrace. If a supplier raises a product price by 26.5%, I can say no, but I cannot say no to the Administration."

Javier Cottet · Vice President of Barcelona Oberta
Other cities like Mataró have seen 46% increases since 2023. Conversely, in locations such as El Prat de Llobregat, Terrassa, or Rubí, the tax has decreased due to new bonus systems linked to smart container usage and recycling efforts.