Environment

Mercabarna has its own system of waste collection and separation which enables it to recycle 75% of the commercial waste generated on the estate each year.

This system is the backbone of the Mercabarna environmental policy which began in 2002 with the principles' agreement signed by management and the wholesale and retail business associations and which is still in force today.


You know what...

  • The Mercabarna waste management system has been ISO 14001 certified since 2004, ensuring environmental quality.
  • Mercabarna is one of the signatories to the 2012-2022 Citizen Commitment to Sustainability, an environmental plan driven by Barcelona City Council.


Environmental infrastructures

Mercabarna users -wholesalers and buyers- have a range of services and infrastructures to facilitate the task of separating waste.

The Green Point

This is a specialised collection facility located inside Mercabarna where the wholesale companies of the Central Markets and CAZ as well as retailers can separately dispose of the waste from their commercial activity (organic matter, cardboard, plastic, wood, expanded polystyrene, etc.). A series of specialist companies are then responsible for recycling the collected waste.

Opening hours and days of the Green Point

  • Wholesalers' area
    • From 7 am Monday to 1 pm Saturday, except: 
      • From 5 pm to 6 pm from Monday to Friday, due to maintenance tasks.
      • From 3 am to 6 am from Tuesday to Saturday, due to maintenance tasks. 
  • Buyers' area
    • Buyers of fruits and vegetables: Market days, from 9:30 am to 5 pm. 
    • Buyers of fish: Market days, from 12 midnight to 8:30 am. 

Location plan of the Green Point

Users’ certificate

Users of the Green Point, both wholesalers and retailers, can use the areas authorized to pour the waste from the commercial activity and request a certificate of the waste that they throw at the installation of the Mercabarna Green Point. For retail users this certificate will allow them to save on the garbage rate of their municipality.

Application form (in PDF) (in Catalan)

Contact the Green Point


Containers in the Central Markets

All pavilions of the central markets have containers/compactors where wholesale operators can separately deposit organic matter, plastic containers, cardboard, wood, etc. Companies from these centres that generate high amounts of waste (more than half a pallet) must take it directly to the Green Point and not leave it in the containers.


Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP)

Mercabarna has a Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) which services the Central Fish Market and enables them to comply with EU, Spanish and regional regulations in matters of wastewater with full suitability guarantees.

Cleaning

A team of 25 people work day and night to keep Mercabarna clean. To perform this task, they have a vehicle fleet designed specifically to clean the estate's facilities, characterised for being highly efficient and less polluting.

55% of water used to clean the estate comes from the subsoil.

Environmental responsibility

Commitment to the electric vehicle

Mercabarna, together with Barcelona City Council, promotes the implementation of the electric vehicle when distributing goods around the city. 

Additionally, as part of this policy, the P2 high-rise car park has three charging stations for electric vehicles. 

Energy efficiency and water saving

  • Agreement to build a centralised cooling network that will supply the cooling facilities of Mercabarna's companies and reduce CO2 emissions.
  • Low-consumption LED lighting system in the Wholesale Markets and streets.
  • Photovoltaic covering on the Mercabarna-flor and Biomarket roofs.
  • Actions aimed at reducing the consumption of drinking water in the centralised management facilities, such as, for example, audits of the industrial processes, new irrigation systems, water extraction from the aquifer, reviewing facilities to ensure there are no losses, among others.