The Municipal Police of Girona imposed 832 sanctions in 2025 for alleged non-compliance with public cleanliness and municipal waste management ordinances. Most of these fines were concentrated in the first months of the year, according to data provided by the City Council.
Fines and control in the public space
The annual average exceeds two daily fines. Between January and July 2025, 333 complaints were registered, while only six sanctions were imposed during June and July. Mayor Lluc Salellas communicated on social media that between January and March, more than 200 fines had already been exceeded.
The sanctions were applied based on two municipal ordinances. The public cleanliness one contemplates fines of between 60 and 12,000 euros, with minor infractions up to 500 euros, serious ones up to 6,000 euros and very serious ones up to 12,000 euros. For its part, the municipal waste management ordinance establishes minor infractions between 125 and 600 euros, serious ones up to 12,000 euros and very serious ones up to 60,000 euros.
New collection and surveillance systems
In late 2024, the installation of smart containers began in different areas of Girona. The door-to-door collection system had started in May of that same year. After the arrival of the new containers, municipal services detected a considerable increase in garbage outside the enabled areas.
The new generation of containers, one for each fraction and available 24 hours, began to be installed in mid-January 2025. The City Council announced then that it was reinforcing police control to guarantee a correct use of public space. According to municipal sources, there are no detailed figures for sanctions in the first weeks of 2025, since the installation campaign for the new containers will not end until April.
Citizen response and follow-up
Given the increase in waste outside authorized points, the association Girona Neta i Digna was created, which promoted through a motion the creation of a specific Monitoring Group. Municipal agents ensure that garbage bags are not left outside the containers and inform both citizens and businesses about the operation of the new system.
"With the passing of the months incivility had improved" - Sergi Cot, councilor of Climate Action, City Council of Girona
The councilor expressed his confidence that the new generation of containers will allow consolidating the improvement in waste management. The City Council maintains vigilance and the reinforcement of information at street level while the implementation of the system is completed.