Waste transport in cabotage in Spain. What is the NIMA number?
Spain is one of the key countries for European waste logistics. It has an extensive recycling and sorting infrastructure, which attracts hauliers from all over the European Union. However, transporting waste within this country, when carried out by a non-Spanish company, involves a number of formal requirements. In this article, we outline the rules for waste cabotage in Spain.
Need help organising your waste cabotage around Spain and obtaining a NIMA number?
e.nadolna@ekologistyka24.pl , +48 881 045 376
j.blazewicz@ekologistyka24.pl , +48 500 867 153
What is waste cabotage and what regulations govern it?
Cabotage of waste is a national carriage by a foreign carrier. This is regulated by Regulation (EC) No 1072/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council. According to it:
- once an international transport operation has been completed, a maximum of 3 cabotage operations can be carried out within 7 days,
- in the case of an "empty" entry (i.e. with no load on the semi-trailer), 1 cabotage operation within 3 days is permitted,
- all transports must be documented (waybills, contracts, cargo data).
In addition, in order to carry out waste cabotage in Spain, any foreign haulier must be registered in their country as a waste haulier and hold a Community licence. Non-compliant transports are subject to severe financial penalties in this country - from €900 to as much as €1.7 milliondepending on the damage assessment of the transport in question.
Waste cabotage notification requirements and NIMA number
A haulier carrying out cabotage in Spain must:
- confirm legal completion of international transport,
- provide transport documents (including waste information, shipper and consignee details),
- respect cabotage limits,
- have an appropriate registration in the waste transporters' register (from the country of origin),
- in the case of hazardous waste, meet the requirements of the ADR Convention.
In addition, it is essential to have Spanish NIMA number (Número de Identificación Medioambiental)which serves to identify participants in waste operations. The NIMA number is assigned by the competent autonomous authority and must be shown on the documents accompanying the consignment. It is a prerequisite for the preparation of a special national notification of a cabotage transport operation. The NIMA number is assigned to the company, not to the specific vehicle the company owns and uses to transport the waste.
The cabotage declaration must be made before the start of the operation and the transport documents must be ready to be produced at the roadside check. What other documents will be needed? Contact us - we can help you comprehensively.
Spanish waste management and participation of foreign hauliers
According to Spain's Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), the country generated approximately 482 kg of municipal waste per person in 2022, which is close to the EU average. Much of this waste is sent for recovery or recycling, generating a high demand for transport services.
A handful of statistics:
- Exports of metal waste from Spain in 2023 amounted to US$6.5 million, with imports reaching US$15.2 million.
- The share of foreign hauliers in waste cabotage is estimated at 20-30% of all transport operations in Spain.
- The main regions where these transports are carried out are: Andalusia, Catalonia, Madrid.
Why do hauliers from abroad opt for cabotage in Spain?
- Spain is growing in terms of waste management, which is reflected in the increasing number of recycling and processing facilities.
- The increased interest of foreign hauliers in cabotage in Spain is probably supported by the high market value of some of the waste.
- Another argument in favour is that, once unloaded from international transport, cabotage is an opportunity for a profitable return trip.
Waste transport in cabotage in Spain - an opportunity but also a challenge
Spain is an important point on the map of European waste logistics. However, in order to legally carry out cabotage in this country, you need to know the regulations, have the right documents and complete the formalities - including obtaining a NIMA number. Proper preparation is not only a matter of legal compliance, but also protection against serious financial consequences.
Ekologistyka24 has been supporting companies for years in obtaining waste transport permits and carrying out waste shipments throughout Europe, including Spain. Contact us if you are planning waste operations in the Iberian Peninsula.
