The Department of Urban Solid Waste and Street Cleaning in the Orihuela City Council is investing 2,555,000 euros of an ‘extraordinary credit’ from treasury reserves for the renewal and improvement of the street cleaning and rubbish collection service. This represents the largest investment made in this department since direct management was agreed in 2012.
The amount will be submitted for discussion at the Information Commission and raised for debate and vote in the next Plenary Session (council meeting) on 28th September. The councillor for the department, Rocío Ortuño, has asked for unanimous votes in favour from all political groups, given the dire need for service improvement.
Councillor Ortuño explained: “We have been suffering from a significant lack of machinery, containers and personnel for eleven years. Orihuela Clean is the commitment of this government team. We have already brought almost 7 million credit modifications to the plenary sessions of July and August to meet the payment of the Consortium, unpaid invoices and provision for expenses until the end of the year, among other things.”
“We are talking about a necessary investment demanded by the residents of Orihuela Costa and, especially, by the workers in the area who are going to improve their quality and safety in the development of their work.”
The councillor announced that 6 collection trucks will be acquired, adding to the 19 currently in the fleet. In addition, 6 open-box 3,500kg dump trucks of 3,500 kg will be added for the collection of furniture and belongings, which is much-needed, especially on the coast. The department estimates that with this investment, around 2,000 side and rear loading containers can be purchased, for which 800,000 euros will be allocated. “In this way we can renew half of the allocation since we currently have 3,800 containers, which will mean an important reinforcement in the coastal area and in selective collection at origin.”
On the other hand, the council has announced the acquisition of a hydro-cleaner since the one currently in use dates back to 1998 and is at the end of its useful life. Around 80,000 euros will be allocated to its purchase. In addition, 55,000 euros will be for new electric blowers to bolster those already in use.