Cambiemos Orihuela Calls for Reform of Orihuela’s Unfair Trash Tax

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Cambiemos Orihuela expressed frustration that, six months after the new fee was approved, the governing team has taken no action to introduce fairer and more equitable criteria.
Cambiemos Orihuela expressed frustration that, six months after the new fee was approved, the governing team has taken no action to introduce fairer and more equitable criteria.

Cambiemos Orihuela has submitted a motion urging the City Council to reform the current waste collection fee, demanding a shift toward a more progressive model that includes increased discounts and stricter oversight to ensure that collected funds directly improve the quality of public waste management services.

The municipal group criticizes the flat-rate fee introduced by the ruling Partido Popular, arguing that it imposes the same charge on all households regardless of their location, usage, or the financial capacity of the residents. According to Cambiemos, the model fails to reflect fundamental principles of fiscal and environmental justice.

Among the key criticisms:

  • Household income is not considered, meaning low-income families bear a disproportionate financial burden.
  • Household size is ignored, with single occupants and large families paying the same amount.
  • Actual waste generation is not factored in, removing incentives to reduce, separate, or recycle waste—an oversight that undermines sustainability goals during a climate emergency.
  • Usage patterns of the residence are overlooked, equating permanent homes with second homes and penalizing year-round residents.

“This is a regressive and socially unjust system that burdens working families, while larger properties, second homes, tourist businesses, and high-income sectors avoid contributing fairly,” Cambiemos stated.

The group also calls for enhanced mechanisms for control, transparency, and public participation, to guarantee that all funds raised are truly invested in improving waste collection services.

Cambiemos Orihuela expressed frustration that, six months after the new fee was approved, the governing team has taken no action to introduce fairer and more equitable criteria.

“We urge the government to reconsider its position, listen to the community, and stop punishing working families with an unfair tax model,” the group concluded. “This is about more than just a fee—it’s about ensuring the right of residents to quality public services, funded in a just and proportional way.”