Recycling like no one else – the Costa del Sol

Congratulations are due for the conscientious residents of Costa del Sol, who recycle more effectively than anyone else in Andalusia, and, for that matter, anywhere else in Spain, according to 2024 selective waste collection data.
Manuel Cardeña, president of the Mancomunidad de Municipios (commonwealth of municipalities) de la Costa del Sol, has announced that the region’s recycling ratios for light packaging and glass way overpass regional and national averages.
In 2024, the Mancomunidad collected 15.5 million kilos of light packaging, equating to 29.26 kilos per inhabitant annually, compared to the 14.40 kg average in Andalusia and the 20.40 kg average throughout Spain. This was made possible by 4,049 yellow containers, one per 131 residents. Glass recycling also excelled, with 14.9 million kilos collected, or 28.24 kilos per inhabitant (that’s a lot of wine), against 15.30 kg in Andalusia and 19.10 kg in Spain, made possible by 3,514 green containers (one per 151 residents).
Cardeña praised the region’s leadership in transforming waste into resources, thanking residents for their awareness and efficient management and the contractor, Urbaser. He gave special stress to ongoing efforts to further improve these exemplary recycling rates, benefiting both the environment and local economy.