Cost of living: a pay-per-emptying waste tariff

How it is calculated

Waste collection is billed by SEAB with a tariff that depends on household size and type of user (in a condominium, or in a detached house or with chip-tagged bags). There is a compulsory minimum tariff, payable regardless of how much waste you produce, which includes a set volume of residual waste; each extra litre is charged separately, VAT included. Residual-waste bins carry a microchip that logs each emptying, and every time the whole bin volume is counted: SEAB therefore advises putting the bin out only when full.

For an unused dwelling the minimum remains due if the home is connected to at least one utility (water, gas or electricity); to claim a reduction you need a calendar year of electricity bills showing an average daily consumption that SEAB states as "below 1 kW".

Bills

Households receive three bills a year: an advance for January–May, an advance for June–October and, the following spring, a bill for the last two months with the annual balance. Bills are posted to the address given at registration; registering on the online customer portal lets you drop the paper copy. Payment is by SEPA direct debit, which SEAB recommends, or PagoPA.