Lanzarote Recycling Collection Strike: What Residents and Visitors Need to Know
A new recycling collection dispute could affect waste collection across Lanzarote from October, with an indefinite strike announced for workers responsible for the island's selective recycling service.
The planned industrial action is due to begin at 00:01 on Tuesday 13 October 2026. It concerns the selective collection service operated by Urbaser and, according to the workers' union CCOO, would involve the entire workforce at the Lanzarote selective collection centre.
For residents and holidaymakers in Lanzarote, the important point is that this is a recycling collection dispute rather than an announcement that every household rubbish collection on the island will stop.
What is the Lanzarote recycling strike about?
CCOO says the strike follows a long-running dispute with Urbaser over collective bargaining, working conditions and occupational health and safety.
The union has raised concerns about the maintenance and suitability of vehicles and equipment, rest periods between shifts, payment for night work, compensation for working public holidays, work clothing and medical examinations carried out outside normal working hours.
CCOO also says salary conditions have remained frozen since 31 December 2024.
The strike notice was formally registered with the Directorate General of Labour of the Government of the Canary Islands after the workers' assembly unanimously backed industrial action.
What recycling services could be affected?
The service involved is Lanzarote's selective waste collection system. This includes the collection of recyclable materials such as glass, packaging and paper and cardboard.
That distinction is important for visitors. The announcement does not state that all municipal rubbish collection on Lanzarote will automatically stop.
Lanzarote relies on separate containers for different types of recyclable material, and the island's waste planning documents identify Urbaser as the operator responsible for collection services including paper and cardboard from recycling containers.
Could recycling containers become full?
If the strike goes ahead and no agreement is reached, there could be disruption to the emptying of recycling containers. Exactly how individual collection points will be affected, however, will depend on any agreement reached before 13 October and any services that are required to continue during industrial action.
The situation could therefore change before the planned start date.
What should tourists do in Lanzarote?
Visitors staying in apartments, villas or holiday accommodation should continue to use recycling containers correctly rather than leaving bags beside them if a container is full.
Holidaymakers should also remember that Lanzarote has separate recycling containers for different materials. Using the correct container helps prevent contamination and makes the recycling process more effective.
What should residents do?
For residents, the best approach is to keep separating household recycling as usual and follow any official instructions issued by the Cabildo de Lanzarote or individual municipalities.
It is also worth remembering that the announced action is specifically connected to selective collection. Residents should not assume that ordinary household rubbish collection is automatically included unless further official information says so.
Will the Lanzarote recycling strike definitely happen?
Not necessarily.
Although the strike has been formally called and is scheduled to start on 13 October, CCOO and the strike committee have said they remain willing to negotiate with Urbaser.
The Cabildo has also been drawn into the dispute because it is the administration responsible for the public service. Cabildo president Oswaldo Betancort has said the island authority will ensure the terms of the service contract are fulfilled and that waste collection for residents is guaranteed.
Urbaser has not publicly commented on the announcement in the reports reviewed.
This means negotiations could still produce an agreement before the planned start of the strike.
What happens next?
The next few days will be important for Lanzarote's recycling collection service. If negotiations resolve the dispute, the planned strike could be called off. If no agreement is reached, the indefinite action is scheduled to begin at 00:01 on 13 October 2026.
Residents and visitors should therefore look for updated information from the Cabildo, local councils and official waste-service announcements before assuming that recycling collections have stopped.
