Navarra partially accepts the environmental change regarding wind turbine recycling in Falces

The Circular Economy and Innovation Service of the Government of Navarra has partially accepted the change in operating conditions of the unified environmental authorization for the facility of Renercycle SL, a logistics and treatment center for metallic waste from wind turbines located in the municipality of Falces. This is established by Resolution 334E/2026, dated July 31, signed by the director of the service, Francisco Javier Larrañeta Nido, and published in the Official Gazette of Navarra number 164, dated August 20, 2026, on page 30164.

The facility, currently in operation, holds a unified environmental authorization granted via Resolution 386E/2024, dated September 20, and is included in Annex 1, group 5.1, of Foral Law 17/2020, of December 16, regulating Activities with Environmental Impact. On May 27, 2026, the holder requested a change in conditions, specifically the inclusion of new waste in the list of Annex III of their authorization.

The file, with code 0001-0061-2026-000043, was processed by the Circular Economy and Innovation Service itself. The proposed resolution was submitted to a fifteen-day hearing process for the holder, during which no allegations were presented.

Accepted changes and conditions

The accepted changes allow for the environmentally appropriate operation of the facility and are consistent with the emission limit values and the requirements of its authorization, as well as the application of the best available techniques. The modification is processed under Article 28 of Foral Law 17/2020.

Regarding fire safety, in accordance with Royal Decree 2267/2004, of December 3, the amount of stored waste must not result in an increase in the intrinsic risk level calculated in the technical documentation of the authorization granting file.

Regulatory framework and classification

The activity is categorized under the following instruments:

• Foral Law 17/2020, of December 16: Annex 1, group 5.1.
• Royal Legislative Decree 1/2016, of December 16: center not included.
• Directive 2010/75/EU, of November 24: center not included.
• Law 21/2013, of December 9: Annex II, group 9.b).

Appeals and notifications

Against the resolution, which does not exhaust the administrative route, interested parties who are not public administrations may file an appeal for reversal (recurso de alzada) before the head of the Department of Rural Development and Environment within one month. Public Administrations may file a contentious-administrative appeal within two months before the Contentious-Administrative Chamber of the High Court of Justice of Navarra. The resolution will be forwarded to Renercycle SL and the City Council of Falces.

The decision reinforces Navarra’s commitment to the circular economy by allowing a center dedicated to the recycling of wind turbine components to expand its operations within controlled environmental limits. For the local environment of Falces, the resolution guarantees that the activity remains within the authorized safety and emission parameters, reconciling waste recovery with environmental protection.

Source: Official Gazette of Navarra, number 164, August 20, 2026, section 1.7 Others, page 30164 (official reference: Resolution 334E/2026).