Tarragona Reduces Container Crisis Fine by 60% to 140,000 Euros

The reduction comes after municipal technicians partially upheld the appeals filed by the concessionaire company.

Generic image of a waste container in an urban setting.
IA

Generic image of a waste container in an urban setting.

The Tarragona City Council has decided to reduce the fine imposed on the waste management company for the container crisis last November, from 335,000 to 140,000 euros.

The initial penalty, which amounted to 335,000 euros, has been significantly reduced after municipal technicians at Plaça de la Font partially accepted the appeals filed by the company. This decision will be ratified in the upcoming municipal plenary session.
The container crisis occurred between late October and early November, coinciding with the All Saints' Day holiday and the change of the service management company. The initial proposal from the municipal government included 65,000 euros for 282 unprovided services during October and 270,000 euros for the container issue between November 1 and 4, just before the concessionaire handover.
The company argued that the unperformed services were due to "municipal requirements and instructions linked to the reversion process" and not to its own non-compliance. It also questioned the validity of the municipal reports, claiming they were drafted by a technician with previous disputes with the company.
Ultimately, the council decided to maintain the 65,000 euro fine for the October service but reduced the container crisis fine from 270,000 to 75,000 euros. Thus, the total amount to be paid is 140,000 euros, 60% less than initially planned. Despite this reduction, the company has announced it will file an appeal and go to court to try and completely annul the sanction.