Circular Economy Drives Local Employment Growth Through Electronic Waste Management in Spain
Spain's circular economy efforts in electronic waste management are generating stable jobs and boosting local economies, with companies like Movilex leading the way.
- • Movilex employs 54 people in Lobón, contributing to local economic growth.
- • 65,683 tons of electronic waste were processed by Movilex in early 2025, a 27% year-on-year rise.
- • The RAEE sector demands skilled labor and offers new technical job profiles.
- • Training programs are essential to enhance local employability and support the ecological transition.
Key details
Spain's circular economy initiatives, notably in electronic waste management (RAEE), are creating stable jobs and fostering regional economic development. Movilex, a leading Spanish company in technological waste management, exemplifies this trend by employing 54 people in the small town of Lobón, Badajoz, helping revitalize the local economy and strengthening community ties. CEO Luis García-Torremocha highlights that connecting circular economy projects to job creation can rejuvenate regions and introduce new technical professional profiles such as automated sorting operators and component valuation specialists.
From January to November 2025, Movilex processed 65,683 tons of electronic waste— a 27% increase from the previous year — maintaining an impressive valuation rate of over 98.7%. Operating across Spain, Portugal, Uruguay, and Panama, the company runs seven treatment plants and employs more than 150 professionals. Their plant in Sollana (Valencia) employs 37 workers while another in El Pont de Vilomara i Rocafort (Barcelona) has 11 employees, both contributing to local technical job creation.
The sector's industrial nature and constant material flow demand skilled labor, reinforcing the importance of specialized training programs that improve local employability and community acceptance of sustainability practices. These initiatives also supported major post-disaster recovery efforts, such as recycling over 5,200 tons of waste in more than 25 municipalities after the DANA disaster in Valencia. Overall, the circular economy in Spain is moving beyond theoretical discussion, offering tangible employment and sustainable economic activity at the municipal level.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
