The Costa del Sol removes 33.36 cubic meters of waste from the coastline in June

The Association of Municipalities of the Western Costa del Sol removed a total of 33.36 cubic meters of waste from the coasts during the month of June, with plastic being the material most commonly found on the coastline, according to a report released this Tuesday by the president of the supra-municipal institution, Manuel Cardeña.

Thus, in a year-over-year comparison, the joint entity highlighted that the amount of plastics collected this year is slightly lower than in 2024, as is the case with grease and algae, while organic material and other waste have remained stable, and there has been an increase in wood debris.

Plastic is the predominant waste in the sea, making up the largest percentage on the western coast of various sizes and types; other materials such as driftwood, reeds, buoys, polystyrene boxes, fishing gear, and beachgoers' items like chairs, umbrellas, and other elements have also been removed, they specified.

By municipality, the waters of Torremolinos saw 3.52 cubic meters of waste extracted in June, Benalmádena 4.52, Fuengirola 4.5, Mijas 5.07 cubic meters, Marbella 6.3, Estepona 7.64, Casares 0.44, and Manilva 1.77 cubic meters of waste.

Water Quality Plan

Cardeña highlighted that these actions are part of the water quality plan that the Association has launched once again this year, noting that “we have invested 635,312.15 euros in maintaining the quality of the coastal waters for the 2025 season.”

The cost of the service, which will run for three months from June to September, will be funded 60% by the Association, while the associated municipalities will finance 40%, so the president of the institution has thanked the municipalities for “assuming the financial effort involved.”

“Once again they have shown that they are aware of the need to maintain the high quality of our waters, and at the same time they have demonstrated a sense of unity that characterizes the Costa del Sol,” he emphasized.

The service includes 15 vessels

For his part, the delegate for Tourism and Beaches of the Association, Francisco Cerdán, explained that “the service consists of deploying a total of 15 vessels, 4 coastal and 11 beach, for the collection of floating or semi-submerged solids, as well as hydrocarbons and oily substances.”

The scope of this service covers the coastlines of the municipalities of Torremolinos, Benalmádena, Fuengirola, Mijas, Marbella, Estepona, Casares, and Manilva, and these vessels will focus particularly on water analysis, especially at points near underwater outfalls.

These data will be analyzed to establish strategies and develop techniques to ensure the best possible quality of the waters of the Costa del Sol coastline, from which about 120 cubic meters of waste were removed last year, he recalled.