Environmental Quality approves the Corral-Rubio waste plant without an ordinary evaluation

The General Directorate of Environmental Quality of the Department of Sustainable Development of Castilla-La Mancha has formulated the environmental impact report for the waste intermediate storage and processing plant project promoted by Ricardo Rodríguez González in the municipality of Corral-Rubio (Albacete). The resolution, dated October 2, 2026, concludes that the facility does not need to undergo an Ordinary Environmental Impact Assessment as it is estimated to have no significant effects on the environment. The text is published in the Official Gazette of Castilla-La Mancha no. 196, of October 13, 2026, with the official reference 2026/7222 and file number S478/2026/DG/00103.

The decision is adopted under Article 6.2 of Law 2/2020, of February 7, on Environmental Assessment of Castilla-La Mancha, which subjects certain projects to a simplified assessment to determine if they have significant effects. The activity is included in Annex II of Law 21/2013, of December 9, updated by Royal Decree 445/2023, of June 13, in group 9, section b), relating to waste disposal or recovery facilities not included in Annex I.

The processing began on October 9, 2025, when the request for initiation and the environmental document were received by the General Directorate of Circular Economy and 2030 Agenda. On October 15, 2025, the documentation was transferred to the General Directorate of Environmental Quality as the environmental body. Following a request for complementary information on March 25, 2026, the promoter submitted a new environmental document in April 2026, which is used as the reference. On May 19, 2026, the promoter was notified that the documentation was complete.

Technical characteristics of the facility

The project will be located on plot 67 of polygon 2, on rural land, approximately 1,900 meters southeast of the urban center of Corral-Rubio, using the municipal swimming pool as a reference. The main planned facilities are:

• Impermeable slab of 511.36 m², with a permeability coefficient equal to or less than 1 × 10⁻⁹ m/s and a slope of 2.5% towards the leachate collection.
• Manure pit of 20 × 25 meters, with waterproofed concrete pavement and walls, raised 10 centimeters above the ground.
• Independent pond for leachates and rainwater of 63 m³ (3 × 14 × 1.5 meters), made of reinforced concrete, with 1.50-meter metal fencing, a 3-meter rescue ramp, and leak detection via a drainage ditch and inspection manhole.
• Perimeter metal fencing 2 meters in height.

The estimated treatment capacity is 1,204 annual tons of livestock manure, with approximately 3.5 cycles per year with an average duration of 100 days. Each cycle will store 491.4 m³, equivalent to approximately 344 tons considering a density of 0.7 t/m³, and an annual production of 671 tons of compost is foreseen. The material will be arranged in three rows of 23.4 meters separated by 3.20-meter aisles.

Inquiries, allegations, and conditions

The environmental body formulated prior inquiries to 16 organizations and institutions, including the City Council of Corral-Rubio, the Segura Hydrographic Confederation, the Castilla-La Mancha Water Agency, WWF/Adena, Ecologistas en Acción Albacete, and the Albacete Ornithological Society. The Ecología y Libertad Association submitted allegations on June 29, 2026, questioning the consideration of the IBA ES182 “Pétrola-Almansa-Yecla,” the risk of groundwater contamination, the analysis of alternatives, and the effects on fauna, population, and odors. The resolution rejects these objections and considers the concrete waterproofing and the collection of leachates in a pond to be sufficient.

The report incorporates a detailed environmental condition. Among the obligations, the following stand out:

• Submit a preliminary report on the soil situation within a period not exceeding two years from the start of the activity.
• Obtain the waste management authorization from the General Directorate of Circular Economy and 2030 Agenda and the authorization and registration as a category II Sandach establishment.
• Possess the administrative authorization as a potentially atmosphere-polluting activity, group B, code 09 10 05 01.
• Notify the start date of the activity at least 10 days in advance and designate a person responsible for the monitoring program.
• Present monitoring reports in the first quarter of each year during the first three years of operation.
• Develop a closure and decommissioning plan before the activity ends.

The Albacete Citizen Protection Service pointed out forest fires and seismic risks, of moderate-low intensity, as factors to consider, while the Natural Environment Service concluded on July 17, 2026, that no significant impacts are foreseen. The report expires four years after its publication, extendable for two more, and is not independently appealable.

The resolution directly affects the residents of Corral-Rubio and the waste management sector of the province: it clears the administrative path for a manure recovery plant that will produce compost for agricultural use, but subjects it to periodic environmental monitoring and the prior procurement of sectoral authorizations for waste, atmosphere, and Sandach before starting the activity.

Source: Official Gazette of Castilla-La Mancha, no. 196, of October 13, 2026, section III, page 36430 (official reference: 2026/7222).