1. Have you paid the first instalment of the newly revised waste collection tax?
On May 2, the first instalment of Orihuela’s 2025 revised waste collection tax was debited from residents’ bank accounts. For most households, this amounted to €101.44, with variations for those eligible for discounts or in the case of businesses.
This revised rate means that residents will pay €203 annually—triple the amount paid in previous years.
This increase comes despite a clear decline in service quality, especially in Orihuela Costa, where there’s a severe lack of staff, containers, trucks, and street cleaning equipment.
2. Can you file a legal complaint about this tax?
Yes. The new tax likely violates Law 7/2022, of April 8, on waste and contaminated soils for a circular economy. The law requires that waste collection fees be based on the amount of waste generated by each user, ensuring a fair distribution of service costs under the principle “polluter pays.”
Orihuela’s revised tax does not follow this principle:
It charges the same flat fee for all homes, whether located downtown, in rural areas, or on the coast.
It does not consider key factors such as:
- Home size
- Number of residents
- Type of use (permanent residence, holiday home, rental, etc.)
- Street category or waste type
Any resident who has paid this tax is entitled to file an Administrative-Economic Claim with the City Council.
3. How do you submit a claim?
a. Get a copy of your tax receipt (from your bank or payment confirmation) to attach to your claim.
b. Download, fill in, and sign the official Administrative-Economic Claim form here: https://acortar.link/s9rkqX
An English version is provided but for information only—the form must be completed in Spanish. Read the English instructions in the images below.
c. Submit electronically via Orihuela’s e-Office using a digital certificate or Cl@ve system:
Use the procedure called “Interposición recurso Administrativo”, attach the form and receipt, and follow the site’s instructions.
d. If you don’t have a digital certificate, submit the documents in person at the municipal office in Playa Flamenca or any other Orihuela administrative office.
e. Deadline to submit the claim: June 2, 2025.
More information can be found in this article by Juan Ignacio López-Bas Valero, lawyer, former Orihuela councilman, and national deputy:
All residents are encouraged to submit this claim to defend their rights and demand fair and decent local services.
ENGLISH INSTRUCTIONS
