Approximately one year ago, the Vitoria-Gasteiz City Council removed a waste container located behind Abetxuko's Plaza Mayor, situated between a block of buildings and the Zadorra residence. Since then, local residents have been forced to travel to a more distant container island or to another container in front of the Plaza Mayor to dispose of their waste.
According to some residents, this situation particularly affects elderly individuals and those with reduced mobility. To reach the container island, they must descend a slope while carrying heavy garbage bags. On rainy days, residents report feeling unsafe due to the risk of falls and the increased effort required for older individuals.
“"The removal was not due to “bad intentions,” but rather to technical and safety criteria."
During the environmental commission held on February 19, Councilor Pascual Borja explained that the container's removal was not due to “bad intentions” but rather to technical and safety criteria. The councilor stated that the garbage truck had to travel approximately 58 meters to enter and then reverse to exit, a maneuver complicated by cars parked along the street. Furthermore, the city council aims to eliminate isolated containers and consolidate them into complete recycling islands, with some exceptions. The municipal administration also seeks to protect both sanitation workers and other road users during this reversing maneuver.
However, some residents have not accepted the technical explanation and have collected signatures to demand the return of the container that had been there “all their lives.” They argue that in other areas of Abetxuko, such as Iglesias street, garbage trucks do perform reversing maneuvers after completing their service. They do not understand why what “had always been there” cannot be maintained behind the Plaza Mayor.
