Last Friday, October 18, L’Ametlla del Vallès experienced a pivotal event for its green and sustainable future with the inauguration of the new Municipal Green Waste Management Center. These innovative facilities represent a significant advance in the sustainable management of natural resources in the region, with the aim of promoting a circular economy and the recovery of pruning and gardening waste.
Jan Santaló, Mayor of L’Ametlla del Vallès, kicked off the event with a presentation on the local circular economy. He emphasized the importance of this project as a driver of essential change for resource management and municipal self-sufficiency.
Joan Carles Castro, head of technology and corporate systems services at the Barcelona Provincial Council, then addressed the integration of new technologies at the center in his presentation on connected devices. This infrastructure is equipped with advanced technology that allows fully efficient, real-time management of green waste unloading and the loading of valorized products, managed by users themselves.
Another highlight was the intervention of Pol Oliveres, Councilor for the Environment of L’Ametlla del Vallès, who outlined the goals of municipal valorization. Oliveres emphasized that the center, in addition to collecting green waste with a user-friendly system, transforms it into valuable resources, aligning with principles of sustainability and carbon footprint reduction.
Albert Font, Director of Project and Territory Development at SOTS, explained in detail the concept of a self-managed EVUP, highlighting the innovative and autonomous nature of the new center. This system will enable the municipality and four other participating towns to manage green waste independently and efficiently, generating useful products like high-quality compost for agricultural and landscaping use, as well as wood chips to be used in the towns’ heating systems.
A Day for a Circular Future
The inaugural event brought together representatives from more than a dozen local councils, industry professionals, and members of the Barcelona Provincial Council, who learned firsthand about this technological and environmental initiative. Attendees enjoyed a series of presentations that provided context for this project and its benefits, followed by a guided tour of the new facilities.
Jan Santaló, Mayor of L’Ametlla del Vallès, kicked off the event with a presentation on the local circular economy. He emphasized the importance of this project as a driver of essential change for resource management and municipal self-sufficiency.
Joan Carles Castro, head of technology and corporate systems services at the Barcelona Provincial Council, then addressed the integration of new technologies at the center in his presentation on connected devices. This infrastructure is equipped with advanced technology that allows fully efficient, real-time management of green waste unloading and the loading of valorized products, managed by users themselves.
Another highlight was the intervention of Pol Oliveres, Councilor for the Environment of L’Ametlla del Vallès, who outlined the goals of municipal valorization. Oliveres emphasized that the center, in addition to collecting green waste with a user-friendly system, transforms it into valuable resources, aligning with principles of sustainability and carbon footprint reduction.
Albert Font, Director of Project and Territory Development at SOTS, explained in detail the concept of a self-managed EVUP, highlighting the innovative and autonomous nature of the new center. This system will enable the municipality and four other participating towns to manage green waste independently and efficiently, generating useful products like high-quality compost for agricultural and landscaping use, as well as wood chips to be used in the towns’ heating systems.
Technology in the Service of Sustainability
Accompanied by TV3 cameras, attendees observed how the self-managed facilities operate easily, optimizing the unloading process and ensuring that the first phase of waste treatment is effective enough to encourage use of this station and respect for the environment. During the guided tour, Ferran Lozano, Director of SOTS Obras y Servicios, the construction company responsible for the project, explained in detail the various stages through which green waste passes, from reception to conversion into compost and wood chips. Participants had the opportunity to ask questions and join a networking session, creating a rich space for discussion.
A Shared Commitment
The event concluded with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque, a symbolic gesture marking the beginning of a new era in L’Ametlla del Vallès, driven by Local Circular Economy initiatives in green waste management and local compost and wood chip production. The event was highly organized, with the town council highlighting close collaboration with the construction company, as well as with SOTS Smart Operations, who were responsible for the station’s technological development. The new Green Waste Management Center is more than just infrastructure; it is a statement of intent toward a more sustainable future, where waste becomes a resource, and the environment is treated with responsibility and innovation. An inspiring day that made it clear that L’Ametlla del Vallès is at the forefront of a change that can only be described as essential.
