Zabalgarbi, 20 years of commitment to Bizkaia
ZABALAGARBI
On 20 October, Zabalgarbi celebrated its 20th anniversary under the slogan “Zabalgarbi, 20 years of commitment to Bizkaia”, in an event held at the Euskalduna Conference Centre in Bilbao. The celebration brought together more than 150 guests, including public authorities, industry representatives, partner companies, civil society organisations, and company staff.
Among the attending authorities were the General Deputy of Bizkaia, Elixabete Etxanobe; the President of the General Assemblies of Bizkaia, Ana Otadui; the Provincial Deputy for the Natural Environment and Agriculture, Arantza Atutxa; and the Deputy Minister for the Environment of the Basque Government, Josu Bilbao, along with other institutional representatives.
A 20-year journey of transforming waste into energy for Bizkaia
Two decades ago, Zabalgarbi began operations with a clear purpose: to harness non-recyclable waste to generate electricity, avoiding landfill disposal and providing a sustainable energy solution for Bizkaia.
Since then, the plant has treated nearly five million tonnes of waste—an amount that could fill San Mamés stadium eight times—and has produced around 35% of the electricity consumed by households in the region.
Thanks to this energy recovery technology, Zabalgarbi has made a decisive contribution to reducing landfill use and greenhouse gas emissions, establishing itself as a European benchmark in energy efficiency and the circular economy.
An event to reflect on the past and look to the future
The event began with the screening of a commemorative video highlighting Zabalgarbi’s journey, followed by a speech from the General Deputy of Bizkaia, Elixabete Etxanobe, who emphasised Zabalgarbi’s importance in sustainable waste management and its contribution to the region’s development.
This was followed by a video featuring interviews with individuals involved in the project since its early stages, leading into a roundtable discussion titled “Zabalgarbi: 20 Years of Commitment to Bizkaia”, moderated by José Ramón Lizarraga.
Participants included Jon Azua, Jorge Sendagorta Gomendio, Mª Esther Solabarrieta, Carlos Martínez Oset, José Luis Bastarrica, and Roberto Galíndez—six key figures who, more than 30 years ago, helped initiate the project in various ways. The speakers reflected on Zabalgarbi’s evolution and its contribution to technological innovation, sustainability, energy efficiency, and the progress of Bizkaia.
