Following a competitive Expression of Interest process, His Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar has signed a historic agreement with a subsidiary of Environment and Waste Management Services Limited (EWMS), Recycle.gi, for a new Waste Management Facility. EWMS and its senior team have over 30 years of experience in waste management. 

A critical part of HMGoG’s resilience planning for the event of a No Negotiated Outcome has been the review of current waste management practices with a focus on increasing Gibraltar’s self-sufficiency in this area in a manner which is also the most cost-efficient option in the event of a UK/EU Treaty being finalised. To this end, HMGoG issued an Expression of Interest (EOI) in July last year for the provision of a Waste Management Facility (WMF) in both NNO and Treaty scenarios. 

Following the selection of Recycle.gi as the preferred bidder, HMGoG is pleased to have now agreed with them the terms for a WMF sorting, material recovery and storing capabilities along with an Energy from Waste plant that will produce electricity. 

The agreement provides for:

1. A State-of-the-Art Waste Management Facility: A first for Gibraltar, the facility will revolutionise waste disposal, sorting, and recycling using cutting-edge technology.
2. Creation of 50 Local Jobs: The facility will offer diverse employment opportunities, from managerial roles to specialised positions in waste management and renewable energy sectors.
3. Generation of Renewable Energy from Waste: The facility, which will itself be hybrid, will convert waste into energy, which will be fed directly into Gibraltar’s local power grid, supporting sustainability and energy independence. Provision is also made for potential wind energy production.
4. Freeing Up of Critical Resources: By managing waste locally, Gibraltar can reduce reliance on external waste processors, cutting costs and logistical burdens.
5. Assisting Gibraltar in Meeting Environmental Goals: The initiative will significantly boost recycling rates and reduce pollution, aligning with both EU and local environmental directives, and Gibraltar’s commitments to Net Zero.
6. Emissions monitoring and control: Advanced filtration systems will ensure emissions meet the highest EU standards.
7. Economic Benefits for Gibraltar: Shared revenue from recycled and repurposed waste will provide a new income stream for the Government, which will produce revenue for the taxpayer and benefit the local economy.
8. Greater Self-Sufficiency and Service Security: The facility reduces dependence on waste export to Spain, ensuring uninterrupted services and mitigating risks in both NNO and Treaty scenarios. Even in the latter, waste disposal costs are set to rise and regulations are set to become more burdensome in the EU.

Subject to all the relevant planning and environmental permit requirements being met, it is envisaged that the WMF will be constructed in phases at Dobinson way, Europa Advance Road, with the sorting and material recovery facility being operational by no later than 2026. 

The Minister for Enivronment, the Hon John Cortes, said: ‘This agreement is a landmark, generational milestone that will benefit people, the environment and the economy. This facility will provide Gibraltar with the waste separation and sorting capacity required to significantly increase our rates of recycling and recovery as well as the ability to treat residual waste where necessary. It will therefore minimise the amount of municipal waste sent for landfill, which is increasingly being dissuaded by the European Union in an effort to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases; a central objective which is also enshrined in Gibraltar’s Climate Change Strategy, 25 Year Environment Plan and Net Zero commitments.” 

The Chief Minister, the Hon Fabian Picardo, said: “I’m delighted that this agreement for a new Waste Management Facility not only meets our manifesto commitments but exceeds them. It is yet another example of the holistic ways this Government is delivering for people, for jobs, for the economy and for the environment. 

“The development of this Waste Management Facility shows how our expansive work on NNO resilience has led to real-world improvements in the way we do things which will benefit generations of Gibraltarians even if we finalise a Treaty. Whilst we continue to work towards an agreement with the EU in earnest, we continue to find new, innovative solutions to complex and historic problems, which will not only benefit us locally, but will reset how Gibraltar interacts with and is perceived by the wider regional context we live in, in any eventuality.”