Palma to receive Ibiza waste from autumn - pilot phase with 30,000 tons

Due to overcrowded landfills on Ibiza, up to 30,000 tons of waste per year are to be moved to Palma starting in autumn. Profits, concerns and early truck routes shape the debate.

What exactly is planned

From autumn, the Son Reus waste-to-energy plant in Palma will also accept waste from Ibiza. Initially planned is a pilot phase with around 30,000 tons per year. In discussions on both islands, it was said the transports would occur in the early morning hours – around 4 or 5 am, before the holiday traffic starts.

How the logistics are supposed to look

The idea sounds almost choreographed: special ships that depart Ibiza at night, dock at the quays in Palma, and then sealed trucks that bring the containers to the incineration plant. People speak of dense containers and a tight driving route, ideally without passing through the city centers. Residents in the south of Palma who live along the routes are not surprised: "When the first truck rolls through the neighborhood after two cups of coffee, you notice it," says a taxi driver from Son Ferriol.

Money as compensation – who benefits?

As part of the agreement, the Mallorca Island Council receives 50 million euros. The plan: with this money, waste fees in the municipalities are to be reduced by about ten percent. Mayors and municipal councils welcome the relief — for municipal budgets it's a welcome breather, especially in smaller towns with tight budgets.

Uncertain prospects and criticism

But not everyone is convinced. Environmental groups call for additional air- and odor-measurement stations, and some residents fear more noise in the morning hours. On Ibiza, officials emphasize that their landfills are reaching capacity and that there are few short-term alternatives.

"This is a pragmatic solution, but not a lasting one", says a representative of a citizens' initiative in Palma. Regular controls of emissions and transparent reports are now demanded, before the volume is increased — in the long term up to 80,000 tons are being discussed.

What does this mean for everyday life?

For many residents, little changes: garbage collection in the districts continues as usual. For logisticians and port workers, it means earlier start times, for traffic planners possible adjustments to access routes. And for politicians, it's about maintaining public trust with numbers, metrics, and clear timelines.

I will stop by the loading zone at the harbor mole next week – early in the morning, in a thick sweater and a thermos. The scene will show whether everything runs as smoothly as discussed in the offices.