The opposition has filed a complaint with the Civil Guard against the waste councillor of Lora del Río, Vanesa Serrano (PP), for depositing asbestos pipes in a recycling bin. The events were captured on video.
Two opposition councillors in Lora del Río have reported the delegated councillor for Urban Solid Waste and Street Cleaning, Vanesa Serrano (PP), after a video showed her throwing asbestos pipes into the lightweight packaging container. The complaint was filed this Monday with the Civil Guard.
The Socialist spokesperson, Francisco Carrasco, one of the complainants, has described the action as "serious" and demanded explanations from the mayor, Antonio Enamorado. "This cannot be overlooked, especially from the competent authority in recycling," Carrasco stated in a press release.
The recording that uncovered the case
In the footage, the councillor is seen depositing fibrocement pipes into a container designated exclusively for packaging. According to the complaint, this is an action "presumably contrary to current regulations." Asbestos is a hazardous material whose handling and disposal are strictly regulated.
Carrasco emphasised the contradiction: "It is particularly serious that the person responsible for ensuring compliance with environmental legislation is precisely the one who, allegedly, violates it so evidently in broad daylight." The spokesperson has called for Serrano to "take political responsibility and be relieved of her position."
The council's version
For its part, the local council has offered an alternative explanation. According to municipal sources, the councillor acted to "eliminate a potential risk for residents" by removing the pipes abandoned in public spaces. "Once temporarily deposited in a closed container, she immediately contacted the La Vega Services Consortium to activate the protocol for the removal of toxic materials," they state.
The council asserts that, following this communication, the Nature Protection Service (Seprona) of the Civil Guard was notified, which sealed the container until the materials are legally removed and managed. "This ensures safety and compliance with regulations," they defend.
For the residents of Lora del Río, the case has caused alarm, especially since asbestos is a carcinogenic material if handled without proper precautions. The nearest residence to the sealed container is just a few meters away, and many are questioning whether there was a risk of exposure.
This is not the first environmental controversy in the municipality: two years ago, the council was already criticised for its management of construction waste. Now, the focus is on the very person responsible for cleaning. Seprona is investigating the events, and the opposition does not rule out escalating the case to the Environmental Prosecutor's Office. In the meantime, the container remains sealed, awaiting a specialised company to remove the asbestos.
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