Work Begins to Seal the Matas Blancas Landfill in Fuerteventura

Territorial Policy allocates over €4 million to seal eight landfills in two years

The Canary Islands Government’s Department of Territorial Policy, Cohesion and Water, through the Canary Islands Agency for Natural Environment Protection (ACPMN), has earmarked roughly €4.5 million for the period 2024‑2025 to close eight illegal landfills. The investment follows the roadmap set at the start of the legislative term to restore these sites and comply with European regulations.

Progress of the Sealing Programme

Manuel Miranda, the regional minister, explained the current status in a parliamentary commission:

• 2024 – Works launched on four landfills

  • Punta de la Vaca (La Gomera)
  • Las Carboneras and Punta Gaviota (Gran Canaria)
  • Soo (Lanzarote)

• 2025 – Works already underway on two more

  • Los Abrigos (Tenerife)
  • Degollada de las Yeguas (Gran Canaria)

• Pending – To start within weeks

  • Las Chafiras (Tenerife)
  • Matas Blancas (Fuerteventura)

“When we took office we found that the European Union had sued us for lacking hydrological planning and for the illegal landfills. Today we can say we have solved the first challenge, thanks to coordinated work with the island councils and water boards, and we are following the roadmap to seal the landfills and avoid sanctions,” — Manuel Miranda.

The initiative is part of a broader plan to address the 47 illegal landfills identified in a European Commission infringement procedure launched in 2015, which later led to a lawsuit before the European Court of Justice in 2024. That case covered 195 illegal sites across Spain, with nearly fifty located in the islands. The government expects that, by the end of 2025, only 15 of the original 47 will remain open.

Current Completion Rates

• Las Carboneras – completed
• Soo – completed
• Los Abrigos – 81.26 % finished
• Punta de la Vaca – 96.59 % finished
• Degollada de las Yeguas – under construction, slated for completion on 20 October 2025
• Matas Blancas and Las Chafiras – works about to commence

Miranda also noted that ACPMN has additional projects ready for execution next year, the most advanced being:

• Los Majanos 3 (Valverde, El Hierro)
• El Riquel (Icod de los Vinos, Tenerife)
• Montaña Calasio (Telde, Gran Canaria)

Measures to Prevent Future Illegal Landfills

Beyond sealing the identified sites, the department is implementing a parallel strategy to stop new illegal deposits from appearing:

• Enhanced surveillance through coordinated efforts of the Canary Police, local police forces, and the SEPRONA environmental unit.
• Improved communication with municipal authorities to ensure rapid response to any irregularities.
• Adoption of new technologies, such as drones, for comprehensive territory monitoring.

“We also call on citizens to collaborate in protecting and conserving our environment,” — Manuel Miranda.