The new charge will have several discounts available, while residents will have until November to make their payment
Residents of Santa Cruz de Tenerife who have received notification of the new waste collection and treatment tax don’t need to rush to pay it just yet.
The Ayuntamiento has confirmed that the voluntary payment period will begin in September and remain open until November, giving residents more time to check the amount due, resolve any problems and, if necessary, arrange payment in instalments.
So if the bill has already landed on your doormat, there’s no need to panic.
Why is Santa Cruz introducing the new charge?
The new tax comes from Spain’s Law 7/2022 on waste and contaminated soils, which requires municipalities across the country to introduce a system for charging for waste collection and treatment.
The amount each household pays will vary according to factors including the cadastral value of the property and the number of people registered as living there.
That means there isn’t a single standard amount for every property in Santa Cruz.
Discounts will be available
The Ayuntamiento says it is working on a range of bonuses to reduce the impact on households.
These will take into account circumstances including:
- The family’s financial situation
- The distance between the property and waste containers
- Certain uses of the property
Residents will also be able to arrange direct debit for the 2027 tax, with a 5% discount available for taxes paid by direct debit.
It’s worth noting that the new waste tax has not automatically been added to existing direct debits for other municipal taxes.
The reason is that the legislation requires residents to receive an individual and formal notification because this represents a substantial change to the tax.
The Ayuntamiento says it had little choice
Santa Cruz mayor José Manuel Bermúdez said the council is required to implement national legislation that it disagrees with, particularly in relation to how and when the new system has been introduced.
He also pointed out that Santa Cruz’s waste tax had remained among the lowest in Spain for more than a decade.
The council says its priority now is to make the transition as straightforward as possible and reduce the financial impact on residents.
Hacienda councillor José Alberto Díaz-Estébanez said delaying the voluntary payment period until September would give residents more time to understand their bill, resolve queries and plan the payment.
When do you need to pay?
The key dates are fairly simple:
Payment period: September to November 2026
Payment: Not currently due
2027 direct debit discount: 5%
Residents can check the latest information about the tax, available discounts and payment arrangements through the official municipal channels.