The municipality of La Orotava, in northern Tenerife, will soon have a new municipal regulation aimed at ending the recurring problems of bad odors and environmental disturbances caused by the use of organic fertilizer on agricultural land. Mayor Francisco Linares announced that the council will tighten the requirements for the transport, storage, and spreading of this type of fertilizer.
The regulation seeks a balance between agricultural activity, supporting the primary sector and local food production, and citizen coexistence. The goal is to ensure that fertilizer use does not cause harm to residents, especially in plots near urban areas. "The smell makes life impossible for residents, and that cannot happen again," stated the mayor.
One of the main technical innovations will be the obligation to submit a prior notification to the city council before any fertilizer spreading. As explained by the Councilor for Planning and Environment, Narciso Pérez, this measure will allow the Local Police and municipal technicians to carry out direct supervision and control.
The ordinance will focus particularly on livestock manure, such as from poultry and pigs, due to the intensity of its emissions. This type of fertilizer must be fermented and dry, and direct piling on agricultural land will be strictly prohibited.
Furthermore, strict limitations conditioned by the Archipelago's weather will be included. Spreading organic fertilizer will be prohibited during periods of pre-alert or alert for wind or high temperatures declared by the Government of the Canary Islands, thus prioritizing public health as odor dispersion worsens in adverse climatic conditions.
The administrative processing will begin in July 2026, with the aim of expediting institutional procedures so that the new regulation comes into effect before the end of the year, addressing a demand from affected residents.
