MAC Insular and Aval del Consell
Management of Construction Waste and Debris: Obligations, Procedure, and Cost-Saving Options
In Mallorca, the management of construction debris and waste is strictly regulated by law and forms an integral part of the building permit. It is considered a mandatory component of the construction process and must be documented alongside other technical and administrative procedures.
- MAC Insular – The Official Authority for Construction Waste Management
MAC Insular S.L. is the public company responsible for the collection, classification, and treatment of construction and demolition waste in Mallorca.
- Before work begins, a contract must be formalised between the property owner and MAC Insular S.L.
- All waste generated from new construction, refurbishment, or demolition must be managed through MAC Insular.
- Each delivery is weighed and classified at the plant.
- A receipt is issued for every container or truckload, which must be retained in the project file.
- At completion, all receipts must be presented to the municipality or to the Consell de Mallorca.
- Aval del Consell – Guarantee of Proper Waste Management
The aval del Consell is a mandatory deposit required when applying for a Licencia de Obra (Building Licence). Its purpose is to guarantee that construction and demolition waste is correctly managed.
- During the licence application, a form with an estimate of expected waste is submitted, and the corresponding fee is calculated.
- Before works begin, the amount must be deposited either in cash or as a bank guarantee.
- During construction, all waste delivery receipts issued by MAC Insular must be collected.
- Once the works are completed and receipts submitted, the deposit is refunded.
- Demolition Projects
- Demolition generates large volumes of waste, which results in higher deposit amounts.
- These costs must be considered in the budget planning from the outset.
- The refund of the deposit is only granted once proper waste management has been documented.
- Recycling and Cost-Saving Possibilities
Not all construction debris needs to end up in landfill:
- Clean, separated materials such as concrete, natural stone, or brickwork can be crushed on site and reused as fill, under certain conditions.
- This requires photographic documentation, authorisation from the architect and the municipality, and proper execution.
- The use of recycled material can result in a discount on waste management fees.
- Recommendations for Developers
- Without a prior waste estimate and without the waste management deposit, no building permit will be granted.
- It is essential to include management costs and deposits in the overall budget from the outset, especially in projects involving demolition.
- To formalise the contract with MAC Insular S.L. and to establish the deposit with the Consell de Mallorca, a Spanish bank account is required.
Conclusion
The contract with MAC Insular and the aval del Consell are mandatory procedures for any construction project in Mallorca. Understanding and planning them from the beginning avoids delays and also allows costs to be reduced through material recycling, while at the same time contributing to sustainability.
