Twelve days of waste collection strike in Las Cabezas de San Juan have led the Town Hall to activate minimum services. Several bins have been set on fire and temperatures are nearing 40 degrees.
Las Cabezas de San Juan has been in a serious rubbish crisis for twelve days. The strike by workers of FCC, the company contracted for the collection service, has caused waste to accumulate in the streets and several bins have burned in recent hours. The mayor, Pepe Solano, describes the situation as "dramatic".
Insufficient Minimum Services Amid Extreme Heat
The Town Hall activated minimum services last Saturday, but the mayor claims that workers "are not complying with them". With temperatures close to 40 degrees, the health risk skyrockets. Residents fear for their health and the economic cost of the damage.
"Since day 1, they have not been fulfilling the stipulated and mandatory minimum services," Solano stated. The Town Hall has approved a proposal to penalise FCC for breach of contract and has requested a health inspection from the Junta de Andalucía.
Fires and Scattered Rubbish: Residents' Fears
A video shared by a resident shows a full bin and several metres of street covered in waste. In less than 12 hours, two bins have burned in the old fair area. "This can already be called a war is on," warned the author of the footage.
Another resident warns: "Apart from being a danger, it's going to cost us money". The accumulation of rubbish attracts pests and generates bad smells, while firefighters have had to intervene to extinguish the flames. The Town Hall asks residents to dispose of rubbish only on the nights of Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.
Two Vehicles for Waste Collection and Call for Dialogue
The minimum services consist of two vehicles to collect rubbish from inside the bins and their surroundings. Municipal employees are also cleaning the public roads, but the pace is insufficient. The Clean Point and collection of bulky items are temporarily suspended.
The Town Hall shows "respect and support for the workers in exercising their rights", but demands that the company and staff resume dialogue. Meanwhile, the residents of this municipality of 16,500 inhabitants suffer the consequences: unsanitary streets, fire risk, and uncertainty about when normality will return.
The strike began on July 1 and, for now, there is no date for a meeting between the parties. The Town Hall has requested an emergency plan to reduce health risks. Residents hope that an agreement will come soon, before the heat and rubbish make summer even more unbearable.
You may also like
