More than a tonne of trash removed as Murcia volunteers unite to clean up local nature reserves

In the Region of Murcia, volunteers removed over a tonne of waste from natural areas as part of the tenth edition of the national campaign "1m² Against Trashure". Organized by Project LIBERA, an initiative by SEO/BirdLife in partnership with Ecoembes, the event mobilized 456 volunteers across 33 collection points in beaches, rivers, mountains, and protected natural areas.

They focused on cleaning up and combating "Trashure," a term combining "trash" and "nature" to describe overly polluted areas in Spain. The cleanup took place at sites like El Valle y Carrascoy Regional Park, the Segura River near Beniel, and Las Amoladeras beach in Cartagena. Local officials, educational centers, community associations, and private businesses also joined in to support the initiative.

The campaign emphasizes citizen science, using the "Basuraleza" mobile app to categorize over 1,100 collected items and contribute to the national Barómetro de la Basuraleza, or "Trashure Barometer." This data provides crucial insights into the types of waste polluting natural habitats. In Murcia, the data showed that 54% of the collected litter was plastic, a material that poses significant environmental risks.

This year's edition featured a nine-day schedule and aligns with European environmental movements, such as Let’s Clean Up Europe. Murcia's contribution accounted for 3.6% of the 919 cleanup points across Spain, underscoring the growing commitment to environmental consciousness among citizens. Beyond the immediate removal of trash, the initiative highlights the ongoing need for environmental education, waste management, and collaboration between citizens, non-profits, and public institutions to maintain clean, healthy, and resilient natural spaces in Murcia.