Project on Ice: Waste transports from Ibiza and Formentera to Palma temporarily halted

Project on Ice: Waste transports from Ibiza and Formentera to Palma temporarily halted

At the end of October a first test run was supposed to start: bringing residual waste from Ibiza and Formentera by ferry to Mallorca and incinerating it at the Son Reus waste-to-energy plant in Palma. The idea is now on ice – in parliament the Vox faction blocked the necessary decree. Suddenly not only an administrative act, but the entire logistics of the small Pityusic islands are in question. Details of the postponement have been reported in Provisional Halt to Waste Transfers: Who Pays the Price Between the Islands?.

The key question: Who covers the costs and who takes responsibility?

Behind the political setback lie concrete questions: Who pays the additional ferry and truck costs? Who is liable in the event of an incident at sea or during unloading in the port? In the offices in Palma budget items are being debated; in the bay of Ibiza town you can hear the diesel of the ferries and see workers stacking cartons on pallets. On Formentera, where storage space is scarce, concern grows with every parked truck.

The problem is often treated as a technical matter, as if it were only about regulations. But it affects people: neighbors along the roads see more waste containers, port workers face extra shifts, and fishermen early in the morning have the sounds of port logistics as a new metronome. It is precisely at this interface that clear answers are currently missing.

What is missing from the public debate

The discussion has so far focused on political blame. Less attention has been paid to issues such as liability for sea transport, the composition of the waste (how much is organic, how much is problematic residual waste), or the capacity of Son Reus to safely incinerate increased volumes in the short term without exceeding emission limits. This concern is also explored in Palma Takes Ibiza's Waste: Pragmatism or a Problem for the Island?. Logistical details – for example the availability of lockable containers for hazardous-like fractions, additional weighing and documentation steps in the ports – are also often left out.

Another point: follow-up costs. What happens to the slag and the filters after incineration? Does the ash go back to Ibiza or stay on Mallorca? Such aspects often determine whether a solution is sustainable in the long run or only a short-lived fix.

Pragmatic alternatives and concrete proposals

The Balearic government must not only react now, but plan. Some realistic measures would be:

1. Clear financing arrangement: A time-limited inter-island fund shared by Ibiza, Formentera and Mallorca, supplemented by regional budget funds. Alternatively: a proportional surcharge on waste fees, shown transparently.

2. Pilot with clear criteria: Instead of immediately transporting large volumes: a limited, time-bound test (e.g. three weeks, only certain types of waste), with independent emissions monitoring and defined liability rules in case of damage.

3. Logistical security: Lockable, certified containers for ferry transport; clear procedures at the ports; night transports when ferries would otherwise run empty, to avoid port congestion.

4. Local relief and prevention: More investment in recycling, separate collection of organic waste and public awareness campaigns — so that residual waste volumes fall in the medium term.

5. Transparency and participation: Regular information rounds with residents, island councils and port representatives to reduce uncertainties and fears.

What needs to be done now — and what people on the islands expect

The parliamentary blockade has bought time, but not a solution. The government must return quickly to the negotiating table, not only with the parliamentary factions but concretely with the island councils of Ibiza and Formentera, the ferry companies and the operators of Son Reus. Local coverage of the planned transfers and the questions raised is available in Palma acepta la basura de Ibiza: ¿pragmatismo o problema para la isla?. Practically, this means presenting binding schedules, cost breakdowns and liability rules before new transports are planned.

For residents, the decisive factor is that decisions are transparent and comprehensible. A good sign would be if the first measures were noticeable on the street — fewer overflowing containers, clearer collection schedules, and reliable communication from the town hall. Until then the atmosphere at the ports remains tense: seagulls cry, engines run, and the smell of the sea mixes with the reminder that waste management is also part of everyday life.

We will continue to follow the story: as soon as there are concrete agreements, a timetable for a pilot trial or alternative emergency solutions, we will report first-hand; the initial postponement was documented in Parada provisional: transferencias de basura de Ibiza y Formentera a Mallorca pospuestas. And yes — separating waste at home really helps, even if it is only a small contribution.