Have you ever wonder where all your olive pits go after having you tapa? I would of thought the bin, but since finding out that Barcelona is testing a new type of road surface that incorporates biochar made from agricultural waste, including olive pits, I now have my doubts!

The project is part of a municipal effort to reduce emissions from urban infrastructure and is being developed under the city’s “21st Century Street Section” programme, led by Barcelona City Council alongside BIT Habitat, BIMSA, the Polytechnic University of Cataluña (UPC), and private sector partners including ELSAN (OHLA) and AMSA.

The initiative is currently at pilot stage and is being assessed in real urban conditions. The material is not a replacement for traditional asphalt but an additive used within conventional mixtures. Olive pits, along with other organic waste such as pine residues, are processed into biochar through a high-temperature conversion process that stabilises carbon within a solid form. This biochar is then used to replace part of the mineral filler in asphalt.

How the material is made and used

Biochar is produced through the thermal treatment of biomass in low-oxygen conditions. In this case, feedstocks include olive stones and forestry by-products sourced from regional supply chains.

Once processed, the biochar is incorporated into asphalt mixtures as a partial substitute for conventional filler materials. According to technical documentation linked to the project, the aim is to maintain the structural performance of standard asphalt while altering its environmental footprint.

The trials are part of a broader effort to integrate circular economy principles into construction materials by reusing agricultural waste streams that would otherwise have limited industrial use.

Emissions reduction estimates

Project data from consortium partners and technical assessments indicate that replacing conventional filler materials with biochar could reduce the carbon footprint of asphalt production by around 75 to 76 per cent. These figures are based on modelling and controlled testing rather than long-term citywide deployment.

The reduction is attributed primarily to lower energy requirements in material processing and the ability of biochar to store carbon within the pavement structure.

The project also includes a monitoring phase to assess durability, mechanical strength, and performance under traffic loads, temperature variation, and rainfall. No decision has yet been made on large-scale adoption.

Where trials are taking place

Pilot tests are being carried out in selected urban areas of Barcelona, including sections of street infrastructure in the Eixample district. The sites are being used to evaluate real-world performance over time.

The programme is being coordinated through BIT Habitat and BIMSA, with funding support for prototype development and testing. The consortium includes engineering firms and academic partners responsible for materials design and evaluation. If successful, the approach could be expanded to additional roadworks across the city, although no implementation timeline has been confirmed.

What it could mean for residents

For people living in Barcelona, the introduction of biochar-based asphalt would not change how roads look or function in day-to-day use. The material is designed to perform similarly to conventional asphalt in terms of durability, grip, and weather resistance.

The main difference would be environmental. Road construction and resurfacing are energy-intensive processes, and the use of biochar is intended to reduce emissions associated with manufacturing materials used in those works.

Residents may see indirect effects over time if the technology is expanded, including lower environmental impact from ongoing maintenance cycles and infrastructure renewal programmes. However, any wider rollout would depend on the outcome of current testing phases.

Impact on visitors and tourism infrastructure

Barcelona, one of Europe’s most visited cities, experiences heavy pressure on its transport and pedestrian infrastructure due to high tourist numbers throughout the year.

For visitors, the immediate experience would not be affected, as the material does not alter road appearance or accessibility. However, if the system is adopted more widely, it could reduce emissions linked to frequent resurfacing works in busy tourist areas.

Construction activity is a constant feature in high-footfall districts such as the Eixample, Gothic Quarter edges, and coastal access routes. Materials that extend pavement lifespan or reduce maintenance emissions could potentially lessen the environmental footprint of this ongoing infrastructure work, although this remains under evaluation.

Research phase still ongoing

The project remains experimental, and authorities have stressed that no final decision has been made on scaling the material beyond pilot sites. Further testing is required to confirm long-term performance and cost-effectiveness compared with traditional asphalt.

Similar initiatives have previously tested recycled aggregates and alternative paving materials in Barcelona. At present, the olive pit biochar asphalt remains a controlled innovation project (and they are in the perfect country to give it a try), rather than an approved citywide policy. Its future will depend on the results of ongoing monitoring and technical validation.

Holidaymakers flew terrified for four and a half hours as the crew battled chaos at 30,000 ft before a priority touchdown at Tenerife South was granted.

Frightened passengers went through a terrifying ordeal on an easyJet flight from London Gatwick to Tenerife South when 12 disruptive men turned the journey into a scene of airborne mayhem on June 11. The cabin crew raised the alarm mid-flight, leading to Spanish air traffic controllers granting urgent priority landing clearance to get the Airbus A321 safely on the ground as fast as possible. Police teams raced to meet the aircraft at Tenerife South Airport and one by one removed the troublemakers.

Por docenas! 🤬
La tripulación del vuelo procedente de Gatwick llegando a #Tenerife Sur nos comunica que llevan 12 pasajeros conflictivos a bordo.
Solicitan presencia policial a su llegada. Les recortamos la maniobra en lo posible. Aterrizan sin incidencias.
Todo nuestro apoyo… pic.twitter.com/wkpBT2WPL0

— 😉Controladores Aéreos 🇪🇸 (@controladores) June 11, 2026

The crew contacted control towers directly after the group caused serious disturbance onboard. Controllers shortened the approach dramatically to minimise risks to everyone else on board. The plane touched down without further incident, but the episode has left travellers demanding stronger action against repeat offenders who ruin holidays for families and couples.

Crew act fast as tensions boil over

EasyJet later confirmed that officers met flight EZY8035 on arrival because of the group’s behaviour. A spokesperson stressed that cabin crew are trained to handle these situations quickly and that safety remains the top priority. No arrests were confirmed in initial reports, but passengers described the atmosphere as deeply unsettling.

This latest case adds to a growing pattern of alcohol-fuelled disruption on UK flights heading to the Canary Islands. Many incidents link directly to excessive drinking before or during flights, leaving crews and fellow passengers to deal with aggressive or unruly behaviour.

Passengers and experts demand tougher crackdowns

Social media has erupted with calls for immediate and lasting punishment. One X user wrote, “Just kick all of them off the plane and put them on the no-fly list. It’s the only way to stop this behaviour because it’s disrupting and tiring for everybody else.”

Another posted: “The only way to address these people is for ALL airlines to ban them from flying on any flight for a year. This goes for those that get drunk or abusive to airline staff.”

Airlines, including easyJet and Jet2, have already lobbied the UK Civil Aviation Authority for a centralised database that would blacklist disruptive passengers across all carriers. Supporters argue this would prevent offenders simply switching airlines after being banned by one company.

Tenerife tourism at risk from repeat offenders

Local tourism leaders in Tenerife fear these repeated incidents damage the island’s reputation as a safe family destination. Police presence at the gate sends a strong message, yet many holidaymakers want offenders to face instant fines, immediate deportation, or permanent travel bans. Experts warn that without harsher deterrents, the problem will continue to escalate during peak summer months.

EasyJet and other carriers continue to train staff and work with authorities, but passengers say more must be done at check-in and before boarding to stop drunk passengers from ever reaching the gate. One thing is clear after this latest Tenerife scare: the days of turning a blind eye to drunken yobs in the skies may finally be coming to an end.

You’ve made the move to live in Spain. You are now in the groove of how life works. You know where to go, what to do, and how to get things done. Whether you’ve been away for a short time or the majority of your life, returning to the UK can bring some surprising feelings.

So, what do British residents across Spain find most alien when they visit their home country?  Leaving aside the usual answers like “the weather” or “the cost of living,” a few specific themes came up repeatedly, some good, some bad, and some things that were originally taken for granted.

Desperately early dining times

One of the most common readjustments is the eating schedule. After adapting to Spain’s famously late calendar, many find themselves completely out of sync with the British timetable when meeting friends and family back home for a meal.

“What I find strange about visiting the UK now is the eating hours. I could never eat dinner at seven in the evening,” says Molly, who moved to Seville. “Also, not getting tapas with my beer. I always end up peckish and having to look for food elsewhere, especially as many pubs stop serving food after a certain time.”

In Spain, where dinner is often enjoyed between 9pm and 11pm (especially during the hot summer months), eating at 6pm or 7pm can feel surprisingly rushed.

Carpeted floors and bathroom habits

Sometimes the smallest household details cause the biggest reverse culture shock. For one, British homes suddenly seem surprisingly carpet-heavy. After years of living with ceramic or tiled flooring, common in Spain to keep homes cool, stepping back onto wall-to-wall carpet can feel oddly unfamiliar.

Then there is the bathroom. For those who have fully embraced the Spanish bidet, returning to a purely toilet-paper-based routine feels like a step backward. While not every modern Spanish home has one, bidets remain far more common in Spain than in the UK for reasons of hygiene and comfort.

A rushed lifestyle and social stress

Many returning Brits are struck by a shift in atmosphere rather than physical objects. Britain is often described as strangely pressured, anxious, and hurried, with people burdened by the rising cost of living.

“Everything in the UK seems more aggressive these days. Even the supermarket pricing!” says Ruth from Nerja.

Some find the increase in visible homelessness and social stress in the UK particularly apparent. After becoming accustomed to the relaxed, outdoor lifestyle of Spanish towns, many report being struck by the number of rough sleepers and the sense that certain high streets appear more run-down than they remember.

Navigating British roads

Driving on the left again requires a brief mental reset. “It feels strange being on the opposite side of the road now, even though I’ve driven in the UK for longer,” says Rachel, Granada.

Heavier traffic, busier roads, and navigating complex British roundabouts earned specific mentions, making driving in Britain feel far more hectic than expats remember it.

The winter darkness

“How early it gets dark, and the sky just feels lower.”

The UK’s northern latitude means winter daylight hours shrink far more dramatically than they do in southern Spain. While Andalucía enjoys substantial sunshine and clear skies throughout the winter, the UK gloom can be tough to handle. Hand-in-hand with the darkness comes the physical weight of returning home, expats noted how odd it felt to suddenly need heavy coats, gloves, and scarves just to go outside.

Food culture

Food comes up over and over again, but not just because of the schedule. One respondent noted that what stood out most was “the sheer volume of junk food and processed snacks wherever you go.”

Research supports this observation. Studies consistently show the UK has one of the highest levels of ultra-processed food consumption in Europe. Others felt that people generally appeared less healthy than they remembered, though they acknowledged these perceptions are subjective and heavily influenced by the Mediterranean lifestyle shift.

The Best of British

There is still so much genuinely appreciated about returning to the UK.

“You can get everything you need in one supermarket,” says Rachel, who also praised Britain’s urban development, vibrant street cafes, and international influences. For another respondent, one specific British institution stood above all others, “Marks & Spencer Foodhall. I could spend hours there.”

Public transport availability was another frequently mentioned positive, alongside the sheer scale of cultural opportunities. “I want to go back there to study. There’s so much more happening in London,” says Sophie from Madrid.

A shift in time

Perhaps the most thought-provoking observation came from Adam in Malaga, who perfectly summarized how a country can change while you are away.

“I came to Spain 27 years ago and commented to a friend that everything felt 20 years behind the UK. Now I return to London and it’s the other way around. It makes me feel sad.”

What do you think?

Does having to drink a full pint feel strange to you now rather than just having a small caña? Do you find it weird that you can’t just tear a single can out of a six-pack at the supermarket like you can in Spain? Alien that you can just leave your rubbish directly out the front of your house? The list goes on.