Sóller Protests Higher Waste Charge for Holiday Homes

Resistance is forming in Sóller: A new interest group opposes the planned increase of the levy on tourist accommodations from 259 to 388 euros per year.

Sóller: Vacation-Home Owners Sound the Alarm

On the edge of Plaça de la Constitució, at a café that has seen better summers, people talk about numbers that turn one's appetite away. The municipality plans from 2026 to significantly raise the annual waste charge for vacation apartments and houses—from 259 to 388 euros. That's around 50 percent more. For owners who manage multiple properties, that's no small sum.

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New Association Gets Underway

Therefore, recently nearly 600 operators joined the newly founded Asociación ETV Sóller. "We didn't want to knock on doors individually any longer," says a spokesman who prefers to remain anonymous, "this is a lifeline for many, for others just a big cost factor." The group will first seek talks with the city, but also considers a legal review of the resolutions.

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The criticism: Operators argue that the increase is not convincingly justified. Technical reports, according to the owners, do not exist. Many wonder why vacation accommodations should be charged more heavily, while other fees remain the same.

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The City Sees Increased Costs

From the town hall they say the adjustment is necessary to cover rising disposal and recycling costs and to finance the system sustainably. The wording sounds factual but apparently does not reach everyone: in small bars and at market stalls people continue to discuss, and the mood is mixed.

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Owners emphasize that the industry employs many locals: cleaners, craftsmen, gardeners — and that guests in the off-season fill cafés and shops. "If costs rise too much, some will give up or raise prices," says a landlady from Carrer de sa Lluna, who has been hosting holiday guests for ten years.

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What Happens Now

In the coming weeks, discussions between representatives of the Asociación and municipal officials are planned. A town-hall meeting is scheduled for early November according to invitations — exact date to be confirmed. Until then, many questions remain: Is there a compromise? Or will the dispute end up in court? In Sóller, at least, people will watch the matter closely — with coffee in hand and a critical eye on the next bills.