Salem Town Council approves ordinance on manure and sewage sludge

The Ráfol de Salem City Council has definitively approved the regulatory ordinance for the application of manure, sewage sludge, and other organic fertilizers within the municipal district. The decision was made public via an announcement in the Official Gazette of the Province of Valencia number 171, dated September 7, 2026, with the official reference 2026/10905.

The new municipal regulation establishes the framework that will govern the agricultural use of these organic materials in the municipality of the Vall d’Albaida region, with the aim of organizing a common practice in local agricultural activity and addressing its environmental and health implications.

Scope of the ordinance

The definitively approved ordinance regulates the land application of three types of materials of organic origin:

• Manure from livestock farms.
• Sewage sludge generated during wastewater treatment.
• Other organic fertilizers intended for crop fertilization.

With this, the council subjects a practice that, by its nature, directly affects the quality of the soil, water, and the agricultural environment of the district, to its own municipal regime.

Processing and publication

The announcement is included in the Municipalities section of the provincial gazette, within the section corresponding to the Ráfol de Salem City Council, and appears on page 3 of issue 171. The official reference of the announcement is 2026/10905.

The publication in the official gazette publicizes the definitive approval of the ordinance, which is thus incorporated into the municipal regulations following the corresponding administrative processing.

Relevance for the municipality

The entry into force of this ordinance provides legal certainty to farmers, livestock breeders, and organic waste managers operating in Ráfol de Salem, by establishing the conditions under which the application of these fertilizers may be carried out. For residents, it also represents a control instrument over an activity with potential environmental impact, in line with the increasing municipal regulation of agricultural practices in the province of Valencia.

Source: Official Gazette of the Province of Valencia, no. 171, September 7, 2026, Municipalities section, p. 3 (official reference: 2026/10905).