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Overflowing rubbish in Sant Martí: pneumatic collection breaks down again at Christmas
Sant Martí is once again experiencing problems with pneumatic waste collection. Overfilled bins and bags piling up on the streets of Poblenou. The city council blames the issues on repairs and rain. Residents are demanding urgent solutions. Find all the details in our report.
Pneumatic waste collection in Sant Martí has failed again during the Christmas period. Since April 2024, the district has suffered recurring episodes of saturation at the underground inlets, especially in Poblenou and Provençals del Poblenou. In recent days, the streets of Bilbao, Ramon Turró and Llull have shown images of full drain inlets and bags piled up on the pavements, while some inlets remain sealed off.
The city council states that these problems are a consequence of the repairs begun last summer to combat the increase in breakdowns and the accumulation of waste. According to municipal sources, the interruptions are occasional stoppages needed to complete the improvement plan, which has already finished 92% of the work planned in Poblenou. In addition, the recent heavy rainfall has complicated the work and may have worsened the blockages.
Until now, rainfall had not been linked to the collapses, which are attributed to several factors: unsuitable collection schedules, damaged pipes, mismatches in waste removal, insufficient cleaning of the pipes and inappropriate objects thrown into the inlets. The change of company responsible for maintenance has also affected the frequency of incidents.
The Asociación de Vecinos y Vecinas del Poblenou warns that the rise in groundwater is affecting the pipes, which are not watertight and allow water to enter. The association is calling for urgent solutions to the ongoing inconvenience caused by the system. For its part, the Asociación de Amics de la Gran Via confirms that the blockages and rubbish on the pavements have been especially noticeable this week, causing discontent among residents.
The city council committed to carrying out an audit of Sant Martí’s pneumatic network, but residents insist that it needs to be carried out as soon as possible. They believe that only a change of pipes or system can solve the underlying problem, since the current repairs are insufficient and involve constant spending with no visible results.