Waste and recycling management during the COVID-19 crisis

Spain's response to the COVID-19 crisis classified waste management, recycling and decontamination as essential activities – meaning these operations continued even as much of the rest of the economy was restricted.

In line with UN recommendations

This designation aligned with broader UN guidance recognising that uninterrupted waste services are part of public health infrastructure, not a secondary concern – uncollected waste creates its own health risks, separate from the crisis itself.

The recycling industry in the COVID-19 crisis

For the recycling industry specifically, this meant continuing to operate sorting plants under new health protocols, with changes in both the volume and composition of waste reaching facilities – more household waste, less commercial waste, and new categories like disposable PPE.

Selective collection of waste

Selective collection – keeping different waste streams separate from the point of generation – became more important than ever during this period, both for recycling efficiency and to manage the risk associated with potentially contaminated waste from households.

Explore our solutions