The system has been trialling since April and forms part of the Zero Waste Strategy, which includes various measures on the prevention, reduction, re-use and selective collection of waste to cut its environmental impact as much as possible and make public space more pleasant.

Improvements in selective waste collection by type:

• Paper and card: from 354 kg to 479 kg, some 35% more.
• Plastic packaging from 175 kg to 231 kg, some 32% more.
• Glass: from 102 kg to 146 kg, some 43% more.

Better selection of organic waste

The volume of organic waste has dropped from 2,652 kg to 1,170 kg, but its selective quality has improved.

Unsuitable waste elements, which make it very difficult to give organic material a second life, have dropped from 18% to 6.8%.

How does it work?

The selective waste collection model with mobile units consists of installing portable containers from 6 pm to 11 pm: one in Plaça de Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente, and two in Plaça de Robert Gerhard.

• Organic and sanitary waste: from Mondays to Saturdays.
• Glass, paper, card and packaging: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
• Rubbish: Mondays and Thursdays.

Nearer and more respectful

The temporary installation of waste containers frees up public space for a large part of the day, uses strategic points nearer to housing and helps local residents separate their waste, improving quality.

The vehicles which transport the containers are also electric, helping to cut air and noise pollution.

Towards a zero-waste city

The new waste collection model in the Bon Pastor neighbourhood could be rolled out in other city neighbourhoods, once its suitability for each case has been studied.

The neighbourhood of Sarrià is also operating a door-to-door waste collection system which has tripled the volume of selective waste collection, and the intention is to test the efficiency of smart waste containers in the future.

The European Union is demanding cities achieve a volume of selective waste collection of 60% by 2030.