The Minister of Sustainability and Environment of the Andalusian Government, Catalina García, announced in the Parliament Plenary the tender of the works for the project of sealing, closure, and restoration of the landfill in the ‘Hoyo del Gato’ area, in the municipality of Cuevas del Almanzora, Almería. With an investment of 1.7 million euros, this action puts an end to years of waiting by the municipality and represents, in the words of the minister, «great news for the entire province.»
The project, co-financed with European funds under the Andalusia FEDER Program 2021-2027, involves a comprehensive intervention on the landfill: stabilization of slopes, waterproofing systems, drainage, landscape restoration, and environmental control, with the aim of reducing the risk of soil and water contamination, and restoring the ecological functionality of the land. It also incorporates principles of circular economy, such as the reuse of soils and recycled materials.
Catalina García emphasized that this work is also a way to «seal a stage of abandonment» and to «return to the municipality a healthy, safe space in harmony with its surroundings,» advocating for responsible public management that corrects past mistakes and addresses environmental challenges through planning and investment.
The minister placed this intervention within a much broader plan that the Andalusian Government has been developing in the province of Almería. In total, since 2019, over 11 million euros have been allocated to projects for sealing, cleaning, and recovery of old landfills, completed or in execution in fifteen Almerían municipalities.
Among the completed actions are the sealing of landfills in Bayarque (872,734 euros); Instinción (309,234 euros); Olula del Río (1,088,615 euros); Paterna del Río (494,664 euros); Tabernas (357,302 euros), as well as the use of cleaning techniques in the municipalities of Benahadux, Canjáyar, Nacimiento, Sorbas, and Tabernas, totaling 623,073 euros. Likewise, among the ongoing direct actions are the sealing of landfills in Berja (1,540,283 euros); Albox (2,158,449 euros); Castro de Filabres (1,136,851 euros); Líjar (693,057 euros), and the aforementioned Cuevas del Almanzora (1,770,458 euros). These figures reflect a sustained effort over time that, as the minister has indicated, «responds to a future-oriented vision that places environmental protection as a government priority.»
During her intervention, Catalina García framed the landfill sealing project in Cuevas del Almanzora within a broader plan promoted by the Government. «Your Honor, this action is not alone. Specifically, it is part of the priorities of the Integrated Waste Plan of Andalusia,» she stated, emphasizing that it is part of «a global strategy of environmental recovery that we are implementing throughout the Autonomous Community.»
In this context, she highlighted the significant budget increase planned for the current year: «In this fiscal year 2025, the budget allocated by the Government for circular economy and waste management has increased by 68% compared to the previous year, reaching 137.9 million euros.»
The minister also referred to the measures promoted by her department to support local entities in their adaptation to national and European regulations: «Through the Department, we have implemented tools to facilitate municipalities’ transition to a waste management model in line with national and European regulations.»
Over 166 million in aid for municipalities
Catalina García recalled that, in this context, 166 million euros in aid have already been mobilized, including a provision of 10 million euros for the purchase of waste collection trucks. Additionally, she detailed specific investments for this year: «Through the PLA Plan, we will allocate 7 million euros to the construction of Recycling Centers. And through the PLANETA Plan, we will invest 2.9 million euros for the 2025 fiscal year.»
«The model we advocate is based on shared responsibility,» stated the minister, «and provides the means for municipalities to adapt their services to national and European regulations, generating environmental benefits, but also social and economic opportunities for their residents.»
In the specific case of the Cuevas del Almanzora landfill, the Minister of Sustainability and Environment highlighted the transformative nature of this action. In addition to contributing to the ecological restoration of the area, it will enhance safety for the population and significantly reduce the impacts of a landfill that had remained a symbol of abandonment for years.
For the minister, this work symbolizes a change in the environmental policies of the community: «What we are doing is not just restoring a degraded space, it is restoring a right: the right to live in a clean, healthy, and nature-respecting environment.»
