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Underground there is around a million tonnes of waste.
Torremolinos approves conversion of rubbish tip into suburban park

Torremolinos approves conversion of rubbish tip into suburban park

The town hall and regional government have complied with a ruling from Luxembourg

ALBERTO GÓMEZ

Friday, 16 March 2018, 12:31

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Torremolinos will close down its illegal rubbish tip and convert it into a suburban park in a project that will take two years to complete and will cost eight million euros.

The council approved the plan, which already had the green light from the Andalusian government, on Friday last week. The move complies with the recommendations of the Court of Justice of the European Union, which criticised Spain for not adopting the necessary measures for managing the waste in 61 of its dumping sites.

These sites are spread around the country, but the tip in Torremolinos is the only one in Andalucía, according to the report.

Although it has not been used for years, the site has not been sealed off or regenerated, posing an environmental hazard.

The site was supposed to be closed in 2010, following a ruling by a Malaga administrative court. The deputy mayor of Torremolinos, Maribel Tocón (PSOE), assured voters that the closure will put an end to one of the darkest chapters in the environmental history of Torremolinos.

The Andalusian government sent the town hall its project for the site in February and the concil's approval means the tender process can get under way. The town hall expects work to begin this year.

The project will start with a phase to stabilise the ground, after which there will be a period where the waterproofing will be reinforced. Once a former rubbish tip has been sealed in this way, the site must be monitored over the course of 30 years.

The site contains one million tonnes of waste, of which 650,000 cubic metres will be moved to a new location, although it hasn't yet been made clear where.

The works will then focus on creating a drainage network, installing vents to allow gases to escape, and finally allowing for the natural regeneration of this mountainous area through the introduction of new plant species.

In its statement, Luxembourg highlighted that the requirement for the Andalusian government to close the site were underlined by an administrative and judicial necessity, in reference to the appeals lodged by the previous PP administration. In 2006, the Andalusian government took action against Torremolinos council when it was discovered that it was not legal.

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