The Sorigué group cleans the streets of the western area of Barcelona, which includes the districts of Sants-Montjuïc, Les Corts and Sarrià-Sant Gervasi.  

 This service, provided by its environmental services company CLD, includes all systems for street sweeping and waste collection, street cleaning using groundwater, emptying and cleaning bins and waste containers, among others. In addition to this, there are also various multi-purpose emergency service teams. Among others, they work alongside the local police on special occasions and for specific tasks.  

Specifically, the Sarrià area is continuing the door-to-door collection service for waste that has been separated and placed outside homes and buildings. This strategy sets specific collection days for each category of waste, focusing on organic waste, which contributes to the city’s zero waste target. The collection service was implemented with the incorporation of commercial collection with the same system.

Technology at the service of the environment  

Under this contract, Sorigué will deploy a EUR 65 million budget, which will mostly be invested in low-emission solutions.  

70% of its fleet of 341 new vehicles is electric. These 238 vehicles are self-sufficient thanks to an in-house PV pergola and grid supply. This commitment to clean energy will feature an innovative monitoring and optimisation system called Genius.  

This project was developed in partnership by CLD and the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC), the Energy Research Institute (IREC), and the company NVISION.  

By creating a digital twin of its EV charging system at CLD’s facilities in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, the research team will collect and analyse the data from different sources of information and sensors linked to the vehicles.  

As virtual replicas in a real environment, digital twins can be used to recreate a variety of scenarios and run highly reliable simulations. This can be employed to assess the effect of route changes, the different levels of energy EVs use or charging station performance.

   

This is all aimed at keeping harmful emissions such as CO2 as low as possible until the zero emissions pledge is reached.  

All the vehicles also feature GPS and tag reading technology for monitoring and continuously improving services. These systems will allow routes to be analysed and improved, and waste collected from trash containers and bins to be monitored.  

Integrating Vulnerable Groups  

The contract, awarded for an eight-year term and a two-year extension, will employ 1,143 people, representing an 83% increase compared to the last contract which employed 622 people.  

It is worth noting that CLD, as part of its commitment to third-sector enterprises, outsources work to organisations such as the Engrunes Foundation, which works with people at risk of social exclusion to collect bulk waste; the Xarxa Ambiental cooperative, which refers people with disabilities to maintain and clean bins, and the Canigó Foundation, which helps out people with different abilities for door-to-door assistance.  

In fact, CLD was awarded the Bequal Plus Seal by the Bequal Foundation to recognise its clear support towards professionally and socially integrating highly vulnerable groups with physical limitations.  

Locally Committed  

Recognised as one of Catalonia’s most important environmental operators, CLD has been managing city utilities for over 90 years and currently operates in over 70 municipalities across Catalonia and Andorra. Given its extensive track record, it is able to put together crews with expert operators, along with machinery and vehicles specifically for this line of work.  

Cleaning the western area of Barcelona is part of the city’s master plan, which increased the number of workers across the districts to 4,400, and aims to collect 60% of separated waste by 2030.  

This strategy includes EVs, door-to-door collection, strengthening efforts for areas heavily used by citizens and implementing new technologies.