Bilbao sube un 45% la tasa de basuras y congela el resto de impuestos municipales | El Correo

Key Changes to Bilbao's Municipal Taxes

The city of Bilbao, Spain, will implement a 45% increase in its waste tax starting in 2026, raising the average bill from €135 to over €195. This increase aims to cover the rising costs of waste treatment, currently at €36 million, exceeding current revenue by €11 million.

Compensation Measures

To mitigate the impact on residents, the city will freeze other municipal taxes and introduce several adjustments:

• Families with many residents: Will receive IBI (Impuesto de Bienes Inmuebles - Property Tax) reductions.
• Organic waste recycling: A 10% (2026) and 20% (2027) discount will be applied to the specific waste component of the tax for consistent usage of organic waste containers.

Tax Calculation

The new waste tax calculation will consider two factors: economic capacity (40%, based on cadastral value) and waste generation intensity (60%, based on the number of registered residents). Non-residential properties' calculations will involve surface area and activity.

Opposition Concerns

Opposition parties have voiced concerns about the planned changes, highlighting issues such as a lack of detailed home-waste calculation, insufficient rewards for non-waste producers, and insufficient focus on social equity.

Historical Context

Municipal taxes in Bilbao were frozen for three years (pandemic), increased by 3% in 2024 (resulting in a €5.2 million increase), and saw a more moderate 1.7% rise in 2025. The 2026 changes maintain a balancing act between covering waste costs and managing the impact on citizens.