Garbage Piles in s’Arenal: Hoteliers Call for Swift Help from the Municipality

Garbage piles along the roadside cause discontent

For several weeks, one thing immediately catches the eye when walking toward Playa de Palma in the morning: bags and cardboard boxes pile up on the sidewalk, in front of cafés and next to parking spaces. I was today at 8 o'clock on Avinguda Miramar and saw seagulls pecking through plastic bags — not a pretty sight, especially not when tourists with suitcases pass by.

Hotelier Association harshly criticizes the administration

Representatives of the hoteliers in the coastal town openly speak of a condition harming the image of the whole area. The criticisms are simple: too few emptyings, defective vehicles, delayed permitting procedures for beach services. This is what you hear in bar conversations and in the small travel agency on the corner.

“Cleanliness is the first thing guests notice”, says one of the operators I spoke with over coffee. He complains that authorities’ responses take long and the problems accumulate. Not only visually but also hygienically the situation becomes more difficult: rats, unpleasant odors and increased garbage in the sewer are mentioned.

Several businesses also report that this summer beach loungers and umbrellas could not be set up as usual because permits were not available in time. Whether this is due to organizational glitches or lack of staff in the administration is hard to say. The fact is: guests post photos of full garbage bins and complain on review portals.

What do the hoteliers demand — and what is the municipality doing?

The demands are clearly formulated: regular collection times, replacement or repair of the broken carts, easier handling of beach concessions and prioritization of funding applications for infrastructure. They also wish that new cleaning plans be made public and transparent so residents and businesses know what to expect.

The municipality told me in response to my inquiry that they are working on solutions and some vehicles have already been sent for repair. At the same time, they are in talks with higher authorities to obtain approvals faster. Such statements sound good — but they help little if the bags continue to lie on the sidewalk.

I spoke with a family from Germany on the promenade: they said they would come back, but not to this section. Small voices, but many of these voices add up. For a place that lives on tourism, this can be expensive in the long run.

In the short term, more regular emptyings and clear schedules are needed — and in the long term probably a better cooperation between the municipality, hoteliers and the island administration.

The coming weeks will show whether the loud complaints lead to concrete measures or whether the garbage piles will grow even more.