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.

Two people have died and several others have been injured following a serious road traffic collision involving a tourist bus and multiple vehicles in Lanzarote. The crash happened on Thursday evening on the LZ-2 road near Yaiza, close to the resort of Playa Blanca in the south of the island.

Emergency services were alerted to the incident at approximately 7.42pm local time after reports of a head-on collision involving a coach and passenger vehicles. Firefighters, paramedics, Local Police officers and Guardia Civil personnel were dispatched to the scene as part of a large-scale emergency response. The road, one of the island’s main transport routes, was affected for several hours while rescue operations and investigations were carried out.

Italian couple killed in the crash

The two people who lost their lives were travelling in the same car along with their 8 year old child. Spanish media identified the victims as an Italian couple who were residents of Playa Blanca.

Emergency crews confirmed both died from injuries sustained in the collision. Firefighters were required to carry out rescue operations at the scene after at least one occupant became trapped in a vehicle following the impact.

Authorities have not yet released the names of the deceased.

Child taken to hospital

A child who was travelling in the victims’ vehicle survived the collision and was taken to Hospital Universitario Doctor José Molina Orosa in Arrecife.

Initial reports indicated the minor suffered an arm injury, while later updates suggested a possible fracture. Officials have not provided further information regarding the child’s condition. Medical teams treated multiple casualties at the scene before transporting those requiring further care to hospital.

Tourist bus passengers among the injured

The bus involved in the collision was a TUI tourist bus that was carrying a driver and eight passengers, one of them being a 5 year old, at the time of the crash. According to local reports, several people aboard the coach sustained injuries of varying severity. Emergency services assessed and treated those affected as part of the operation. However, Spanish authorities have not publicly confirmed details regarding the passengers .

Emergency response and road closures

The collision occurred near the La Hoya area, close to a Repsol service station on the LZ-2. The route is one of Lanzarote’s busiest roads, linking the island’s capital, Arrecife, with the popular tourist destinations in the south, including Playa Blanca. Emergency crews worked to secure the area, assist the injured and remove damaged vehicles.

Traffic disruption continued while investigators examined the scene and gathered evidence. The operation involved firefighters from the Lanzarote Security and Emergency Consortium, ambulance crews, police officers and Guardia Civil investigators.

Investigation under way

The Guardia Civil has opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.

As of Friday, authorities had not announced the cause of the collision. Investigators are expected to review witness statements, vehicle damage and other evidence collected from the scene before reaching any conclusions.

Officials have urged caution against speculation while enquiries remain ongoing.

Community reacts to tragedy

The deaths have prompted expressions of sympathy across Lanzarote, particularly in Playa Blanca. Local residents also raised concerns about driving behaviour on the island and the safety of the LZ-2 road.

One resident, Bethan Allan, said:

“This news is a real tragedy. I am very sorry for what has happened. I use this road frequently and almost every time I do, I see dangerous overtaking, speeds well above the limit and drivers putting other road users at risk. It is a constant situation. There needs to be more control and effective measures to improve safety, because these are not isolated cases: it happens every day.”

Another local, Alex Pasquin, said:

“I live in Arrecife and work in Playa Blanca, so I drive this road every day. Given the time the accident happened, it must have been shortly after I passed through. Despite the many accidents on that stretch (between Yaiza and Playa Blanca), there are surprisingly few considering the reckless overtaking I see so frequently.”

A third said:

“Tragic! But you see it every day: people don’t drive according to road conditions. Overtaking in the most stupid places, not knowing safe distances, phone to the ear, speed limits, what are they? It’s not on the streets.”

Second major tourist coach tragedy in the Canary Islands this year

The incident comes just two months after another serious tourist coach crash in the Canary Islands.

In April, a bus carrying British holidaymakers on the island of La Gomera left the road and plunged into a ravine. One British man died and 27 people were injured in the crash, which prompted a major emergency response and an investigation by authorities.

Ongoing enquiries

Thursday’s collision is one of the most serious road incidents in Lanzarote this year. Emergency services continue to support those affected while investigators work to establish the exact sequence of events.

Further updates are expected once the Guardia Civil investigation progresses and more information is officially released.

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.