Most people never think about where Tenerife’s rubbish actually ends up.
Out of sight… out of mind.
But this week the Environmental Complex in Arico, the island’s main waste treatment centre, opened its doors to the public for World Recycling Day, giving residents, schools and professionals a look behind the scenes at what happens after the bins are collected.
Recycling in an Island Environment
The event, organised by the Cabildo of Tenerife, brought together school groups, teachers, industry professionals and local residents to tour the facilities and take part in environmental activities.
And the message was fairly simple.
On an island, waste matters more.
There’s no endless space. No easy solutions.
According to Cabildo President Rosa Dávila, every sustainable decision in Tenerife directly affects the environment, economy and quality of life.
Recycling Figures Moving in the Right Direction
The numbers are improving.
Between 2023 and 2026, Tenerife increased recovery of recyclable materials by more than 50%, especially:
• Paper and cardboard
• Plastics
• Recovered materials from mixed waste streams
Recycling education has also grown quickly.
Educational visits to the complex increased from:
• 55 visits / 2,018 participants (2020)
to
• 111 visits / 3,405 participants (current academic year)
From Waste Plant to Resource Centre
Officials say the site is changing role.
It’s no longer viewed simply as a treatment facility but increasingly as a resource centre, backed by investments exceeding €60 million.
Programmes now include:
• Mobile environmental classrooms
• School sustainability projects
• Family participation initiatives
• Recycling competitions
• Reuse schemes such as Truec@, which allows residents to exchange unwanted items instead of throwing them away
More People Using Recycling Facilities
Public use of Tenerife’s clean points is also climbing.
In 2025, facilities recorded:
• 338,920 users
• 63,128 tonnes of waste deposited
Not bad considering tourism keeps rising too.
The island now welcomes over 6.5 million visitors annually, yet waste growth has risen more slowly than population and visitor numbers.
Still work to do obviously.
But the direction seems positive.
Not exactly the most glamorous day out in Tenerife…
Although seeing what happens to the island’s waste probably matters more than most people realise.