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Humana denounces the cancellation of the contract for the collection of used clothing in Gijón
04-03-2026
Humana publicly denounces the cancellation of the contract for the collection of used clothing in Gijón, legally awarded on 1 August 2025, and warns of the serious precedent this case sets for free competition in the textile waste management sector.
The contract was processed by the Municipal Urban Environmental Services Company of Gijón, S.A. (EMULSA) through a public and competitive procedure. Lot 2 was awarded to Humana after obtaining the highest score according to the technical and economic criteria established in the specifications. All the technical and legal reports issued during the process endorsed the legality of the award.
After losing the tender, Cáritas Koopera Astur filed an appeal requesting the exclusion of the successful bidders. This appeal was analysed by EMULSA's technical services and by external legal advisors, who unanimously concluded that there were no irregularities or legal grounds for cancelling the contract.
New report from the municipal legal advisory service
However, despite this technical and legal backing, the city council of Gijón pushed through a new report from the municipal legal advisory service after the deadline, which unexpectedly questioned the contract specifications, specifications that had not been challenged by any bidder during the procedure. Based on this report, the mayor's office urged EMULSA to withdraw from the process, cancelling an award that had already been made.
This decision cannot be understood without taking into account the pressure over the city council. Textile waste management is a strategic area with a strong historical presence of certain operators, and sustained institutional support for one of them creates an environment of favouritism that is incompatible with free competition.
Law 7/2022 of 8 April on waste and contaminated soil for a circular economy already establishes market reserves for certain integration entities, which legitimately limits competition in certain lots. This regulatory framework must be applied rigorously and fairly. What is unacceptable is that, in addition to these legal limitations, there are pressures and political decisions that further narrow the competitive space, to the extent of overturning a legal award.
Humana advocates for a fully competitive, transparent and professionalised textile sector, aligned with European objectives for a circular economy and mandatory separate collection of textile waste. The transition to a more sustainable model requires clear rules and institutional stability. If awards can be reversed due to pressure and sudden political decisions, this creates legal uncertainty and discourages participation in public tenders.
Not everything goes. Public procurement cannot become a mechanism for preserving historical positions or favouring specific operators over more efficient proposals. In any tender, there is a possibility that the operator that some preferred will not win. This is part of the normal functioning of a competitive market. What cannot be accepted is twisting the law to prevent the most efficient contractor from executing the contract.
Two appeals
Humana has lodged two appeals against these decisions. The Foundation is confident that justice will restore legality and set clear limits on actions that compromise institutional neutrality.
What happened in Gijón is not just a local conflict. It is an issue that affects the entire textile sector and the credibility of public procurement in Spain. Setting a precedent for this type of practice would be an institutional disaster with lasting consequences for competition and public confidence.
Humana reaffirms its commitment to efficient, socially responsible and fully lawful textile waste management, and will continue to defend a competitive environment for the benefit of the general interest.
