Bilbao approves the new garbage tax that will enter into force in 2026 and freezes the remaining taxes
The City Council approves the new ordinance with the opposition's refusal, which criticizes the impact of the measure on citizens' pockets. The fee will replace the current garbage rate and be linked to the actual cost of the service.
On Thursday, the Bilbao City Council approved, with the votes in favour of PNV and PSE-EE and the rejection of all opposition groups, the Fiscal Ordinances for 2026. The new charges provide for the freezing of all municipal taxes and the introduction, for the first time, of a new urban waste tax, mandatory under European regulations, which will replace the current garbage tax managed by the Water Consortium, which will enter into force in January 2026.
As explained by Councilwoman Marta Ajuria, the new fee must comply with European principles: "It cannot be deficient, it must reflect the real cost of the service and it is paid by the polluter." The cost of the service, in 2026, will be EUR 36 million, compared to EUR 31.7 million today.
The new tax shall affect all dwellings and premises, whether residential or not. The quota shall be divided into two parts: a basic component (40 per cent) calculated on the cadastral value of the property and a specific component (60 per cent), depending on the number of persons registered in the dwellings or the type and area of non-residential real estate activity.
The opposition criticizes the new ordinance The People's Party denounces that the new rate will lead to a 45% increase in the garbage bill, while EH Bildu calls for the calculation to be based on water consumption as the most fair indicator
Marta Ajuria
'The ordinance is fair, balanced and improved 'and its application' will change over time '.
The City Council shall allow the payment of the fee to be divided into six equal monthly instalments, without interest, if requested before 31 May 2026, and by 2027 it shall be incorporated into the Free Payment system.
In addition, bonuses will be applied to participants in the selective collection system for organic waste. In 2026, those who register before 1 January will receive a 10% discount on the specific component, which will be increased to 20% for those who check the continued use of brown containers by 2027.
Along with the new tax, the plenary has approved the freezing of the remaining municipal taxes by 2026, with some technical changes in taxes such as vehicle tax, surplus-value and the general tax ordinance.
In the case of the Immovable Property Tax, the exemption from the surcharge for empty dwellings extends to cases of dependency to Grade I, and is added to those of Grades II and III.
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