San Martín de la Vega joins residents' opposition to the expansion of the Pinto landfill

Opposition to the expansion of the Pinto landfill continues to grow in southern Madrid. Now, San Martín de la Vega Town Council has submitted a document to the Regional Ministry of the Environment of the Community of Madrid requesting that the planned expansion be ruled out and a new site be sought for waste management. The current proposal would involve occupying 80 hectares of the municipality and extending the landfill's useful life by at least two decades, something that concerns residents because of its proximity to the urban centre and its environmental impact.

The local government explains that the rezoning of protected land in Parque Regional del Sureste would make it possible to carry out Phase V of the landfill, with capacity for 20 million cubic metres. San Martín de la Vega thus joins Pinto and Getafe, which have already expressed their rejection of the expansion and are calling for alternatives that do not place a greater burden on the area.

The Town Council insists that the current site is saturated and serves more than 70 municipalities in the south-east, south and south-west of the Community of Madrid, generating constant lorry traffic travelling distances of more than 80 kilometres. The municipal spokesperson, Sergio Neira, warns that the expansion would bring the landfill even closer to the urban area, placing it just over five kilometres from homes.

Municipal proposals include introducing environmental compensation measures, continuous emissions monitoring systems, wildlife surveillance and specific plans to prevent pests. In addition, the Town Council is calling on Mancomunidad del Sur and the Community of Madrid to review the fees paid by San Martín de la Vega, following the example of agreements reached in other areas such as Colmenar Viejo.

The Pinto landfill is one of the key sites in waste management in southern Madrid. Its location, close to residential areas and protected natural spaces, has historically generated tensions between the affected municipalities and the responsible administrations. Pressure from residents and municipalities to seek more sustainable and equitable solutions reflects growing concern about the environmental impact and quality of life in the region. Madrid is already beginning to move in that direction.