Benidorm is one of the few Spanish municipalities that has cleaning and lifeguard services on its beaches every day of the year. And given the importance that the flow of travelers has for its economy in a city that lives off tourism, it does not miss any opportunity to statistically evaluate each factor of its urban life, which includes garbage.
Specifically, the very abundant waste that the concessionaire company in charge of its collection accumulates daily. Having compiled the data corresponding to the year 2023, it turns out that just over 540 tons of waste were accumulated last year from the city's sandy beaches, including the strip of sea closest to the coast.
The statistic was announced yesterday by the Councilor for Beaches, Mónica Gómez, who recalled that Benidorm "never closes for the season", so even in the months of lesser influx "the volume of users is very high."
28 workers are in charge of cleaning the beaches of the capital of Marina Baixa, using, among other machinery, four screeners and several tractors and other vehicles. During the low season there are 13 workers, four drivers, a mechanic, a foreman and a manager who carry out the manual cleaning of the sandbanks in the morning, from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; and with machinery at night, between 10:30 p.m. and 4:50 a.m.
The total amount of waste collected in 2023 amounts to 544,500 kilograms, with manual collection of municipal solid waste accounting for the highest percentage of waste, with a total of 360,750 kilograms accumulated in the sandy areas of Levante, Poniente, Mal Pas and the coves.
Obviously, the balance shows that in the months of lower occupancy, such as January or February, the volume of waste generated is lower, but it is still very high: in January 2023, manual waste collection of urban solid waste It reached 11,600 kilograms; and in February, the month with the least influx, there were 9,060 kg.
Of course, August represents the peak of accumulated garbage: 82,580 kilos, followed by July (67,450 kilos) and September (38,500), a figure very similar to that of June (37,040). The obvious parallel between tourist occupation and the garbage generated means that October, April and May are around 25 tons of waste each, followed by March (15,220 kg), December (12,420) and November (12,240).
Another form of waste collection on beaches is carried out by means of screening machines, a system that also works 365 days a year and that throughout 2023 managed to remove 168,360 kilograms of garbage, with quantities which ranged between 5,480 kilos – the month of lowest volume – and 28,100 in the month of greatest activity, which was again August.
The Beach Councilor explained that, along with the manual and mechanical work that is carried out on the sand, in the high season months, beach cleaning is also reinforced by the sea, by means of a "pelican" boat, to prevent plastic and other types of waste from the sea reach the coast. This boat, which operates during the months of June, July and August, collected a total of 110 kilograms of garbage: 30, 30 and 50, respectively.
Another notable data is related to the selective collection of waste deposited in specific bins for packaging and for paper and cardboard, of which 2,280 kilograms were removed, mostly concentrated during the months of April, May, June, July and August. .
Mónica Gómez also explained that her department also deals with the treatment of the remains of posidonia on the shore, which in Benidorm are not collected, precisely, "because they are the best natural protection barrier of our coast and a sign of the good health of the water and the seabed.
Finally, the councilor took advantage of the presentation of this balance to ask “that we reflect and be aware of the enormous amount of waste we generate”, and that citizens become aware so that “we also take care of our coastline and try to reduce” the amount of waste that is deposited daily both in the sea and on sandy beaches.
