More than 600 kilos of waste were removed from Ibiza's coastline during two community clean-up operations over the weekend, with volunteers collecting rubbish from Cala Gració and the difficult-to-access coastline between Es Cubells and Ses Boques.

The two operations brought together around 90 volunteers, including residents, sports clubs, associations, businesses and local organisations, as Ibiza marked World Cleanup Day weekend. The combined figure is based on around 300 kilos collected at Cala Gració and more than 300 kilos recovered between Es Cubells and Ses Boques.

Around 300 Kilos Removed at Cala Gració

The Sant Antoni operation took place at Cala Gració on Sunday, September 20.

The fourth edition of the local beach-cleaning day was organised by Facsa in collaboration with Sant Antoni de Portmany Town Hall and attracted 75 volunteers.

Participants included local residents, sports clubs, associations and businesses, who worked along the coastal area to collect waste.

Around 300 kilos of waste were removed during the morning operation.

Among those involved were UD Portmany, CF San Rafael and Fútbol Club Luchador, alongside the UTE Portmany, Associació de Voluntaris d'Eivissa and several local businesses.

Pomelo Playa also supported the activity by providing refreshments at the end.

Sant Antoni Mayor Marcos Serra and Environment, Cleaning and Beaches Councillor Pepita Torres also took part.

More Than 300 Kilos Collected Between Es Cubells and Ses Boques

A separate community operation focused on the coastline between Es Cubells and Ses Boques in Sant Josep de sa Talaia.

Around 15 volunteers took part through the Guardianes de la Mar project, with support from the Asociación de Es Cubells.

Using kayaks, paddle boards and walking routes, participants were able to reach stretches of coastline that are difficult or impossible to access by vehicle.

After approximately four hours of work, more than 300 kilos of waste had been removed.

Large Amounts of Maritime Waste Found

The Es Cubells operation uncovered a particularly wide range of debris.

Volunteers found containers, pieces of boats, fibreglass remains, rudders, masts, aluminium structures, boat fenders and cushions.

Fishing equipment was also among the waste collected, including nets, thick ropes and navigation markers.

The clean-up also recovered agricultural plastic boxes, sacks and everyday rubbish such as bottles, cans, bags, bottle tops, food packaging and plastic film.

The variety of objects showed that the material accumulating along the coast is not limited to the small pieces of litter normally found on beaches.

A Difficult Stretch of Coast to Reach

The coastline around Es Cubells and Ses Boques presents a particular challenge for clean-up teams.

Cliffs make some sections difficult to reach from land, while the area is exposed to southerly winds and marine currents that can carry floating waste towards the shore.

Volunteers therefore used a combination of kayaks, paddle boards and walking routes to reach areas that cannot be accessed by conventional waste-collection vehicles.

The operation demonstrates why community-led coastal work can be useful in areas where normal collection services cannot easily operate.

Local Businesses and the Town Hall Supported the Operation

The Es Cubells clean-up also involved support from businesses in the area.

Bar Es Llumbí and Chiringuito Ses Boques supported the initiative, while Sant Josep Town Hall supplied materials including gloves, reusable bags and rubbish sacks.

The municipality also coordinated the removal and subsequent management of the collected waste.

Around 90 Volunteers Across Two Operations

Taken together, the two clean-ups involved approximately 90 people.

The 75 volunteers at Cala Gració were joined by around 15 people involved in the Es Cubells and Ses Boques operation.

Their work resulted in more than 600 kilos of material being removed from the Ibiza coastline over the weekend.

The combined figure should be understood as the total reported by these two specific initiatives rather than a measurement of all waste removed from Ibiza's coastline during the weekend.

World Cleanup Day Comes to Ibiza

The clean-up activities took place around World Cleanup Day, which was officially observed on September 20 in 2026.

The international day brings together communities, organisations, businesses and public authorities to carry out practical actions addressing waste and environmental protection.

Several clean-up activities were scheduled across Ibiza during the September 18 to 20 period, including a municipal operation at Es Cavallet organised by Sant Josep Town Hall, Herbusa and the Associació de Voluntaris d'Eivissa.

Another Sant Antoni Clean-Up Had 128 Volunteers

A separate environmental action took place in the Sant Antoni area on Saturday, September 19, when O Beach Ibiza and Bam-Bu-Ku held the fourth and final clean-up of their 2026 programme.

The event attracted 128 volunteers, including members of several local sports clubs.

The organisers said numerous bags were filled, but an exact weight had not yet been established at the time of the latest report.

For that reason, this activity is not included in the more-than-600-kilo figure from the two operations reported above.

Colillas Remain a Persistent Problem

The separate Sant Antoni operation also highlighted the difficulty of removing small litter from beaches.

Participants reported finding cigarette butts among the most common forms of waste, along with cans and discarded vaping products.

Because cigarette butts can become buried in sand, they can be particularly difficult to detect and remove manually.

Participants involved in the clean-up said they felt the area was cleaner than in previous years, although cigarette waste remained a recurring problem.

A Community Approach to Marine Litter

The weekend's initiatives show different ways of tackling marine litter around Ibiza.

At Cala Gració, a larger group worked together along an accessible section of coastline and seabed.

Between Es Cubells and Ses Boques, a smaller group used watercraft and walked along a more rugged coastline to reach accumulated debris.

Both operations relied on community involvement alongside support from local authorities and businesses.

More Than 600 Kilos Removed

The combined result from the Cala Gració and Es Cubells-Ses Boques operations exceeds 600 kilos of waste.

Around 300 kilos came from Cala Gració, while more than 300 kilos were collected along the Es Cubells-Ses Boques coastline.

The material ranged from everyday plastic and packaging to fishing equipment and large pieces of maritime debris.

The figure represents only the waste quantified by these two particular clean-ups, but it provides a clear snapshot of the material that can accumulate along Ibiza's shore.

A Reminder Beyond One Weekend

The clean-ups were organised around an international day focused on waste and environmental awareness, but the issues they highlighted extend far beyond a single weekend.

Marine litter can accumulate through coastal activity, fishing, boating, wind and currents, while small items such as cigarette butts can remain difficult to remove even from regularly cleaned beaches.

The volunteers' work therefore served two purposes: physically removing waste and drawing attention to the importance of preventing it from reaching the sea and coastline in the first place.

Keeping Ibiza's Coastline Clear

More than 600 kilos of waste removed in two community operations is a substantial amount of material to take away from the coast in a single weekend.

The initiatives also showed how residents, volunteers, sports clubs, businesses and public authorities can work together to reach sections of the coastline that require different approaches.

As Ibiza moves beyond the busiest part of the summer season, the clean-up efforts provide another reminder that protecting the island's coastline is an ongoing task, not something limited to one day of the year.