Verter Recycling managed the Zaldibar landfill, but on 6 February 2020, when the disaster occurred, the Basque Government took over the management of the crisis. "Not to increase environmental and health damage", according to the Environmental Minister, Arantxa Tapia, and to start the search for Alberto Sololuze and Joaquín Beltrán.

The processes and work have resulted in a total expenditure of EUR 28 million for the Basque Government and Tapia continues to claim economic responsibility to the company. In January the company's "voluntary" payment deadline has expired, but it has not been done, now the Department of Finance will manage the case and the government has expressed its commitment to "breach all legal channels" for the company to make the payment.

Verter Recycling sank economically and is in the process of liquidation, argues not to make the payment.

Government penalized earlier

An Ertzaintza report says that, as in recent days it has been made public in the media, the company used "without asking permission" an area of over 60,000 square meters. The government is unaware of the details given in the Ertzaintza report, because it is in court, but Counsellor Tapia has stated that "the land accumulation area" was received by the company "without asking the government for permission". It was in June 2019, as Tapia recalled.

The Environment Department initiated an administrative procedure for the imposition of the sanction, which fell eight months later.