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

Residents in the Region of Murcia have, once again, demonstrated their commitment to environmental conservation through the incredible tenth edition of the national campaign “1m² contra la basuraleza” (“1m² Against Trashure”). Organised by Project LIBERA, an initiative created by SEO/BirdLife in partnership with Ecoembes, the campaign mobilised thousands of citizens across Spain to clean up trash and protect local ecosystems.

Hundreds of volunteers clean up key natural sites in the Region of Murcia

In the Region of Murcia, a total of 456 volunteers joined forces across 33 different collection points in beaches, rivers, mountains, and protected natural areas in the region to clean up and fight against the ‘Trashure’, a portmanteau of “trash” and “nature” that has come to define overly polluted areas in Spain. Their collective effort resulted in the removal of 1.1 tonnes of abandoned waste from valuable natural sites, including the El Valle y Carrascoy Regional Park, the Segura River near Beniel, and the Las Amoladeras beach in Cartagena. Local administration officials, educational centres, community associations, and private businesses also collaborated to help with the initiative and show their commitment to the environment.

Data collection exposes plastic as the primary and most dangerous pollutant

In addition to physical cleanup, the campaign places a strong emphasis on citizen science. Using the “Basuraleza” mobile application, volunteers categorised more than 1,100 collected items to contribute to the national Barómetro de la Basuraleza, or “Trashure Barometer”. This tool provides environmental researchers with crucial data on the types of waste polluting natural habitats. In Murcia, the data revealed that 54 per cent of the identified litter consisted of plastics, a material that is particularly harmful to the environment due to its long degradation period.

Expanding the campaign to drive long-term awareness in Murcia and in Spain as a whole

This year’s edition introduced an expanded nine-day schedule, and featured scheduled activities for large community groups, aligning with European environmental movements including Let’s Clean Up Europe.

Murcia’s contribution to this nationwide project, which accounted for 3.6 per cent of the 919 cleanup points across Spain, highlights a growing citizen dedication to ecological consciousness. In addition to removing immediate trash, the initiative serves as a vital reminder of the ongoing need for environmental education, preventive waste management, and sustained collaboration between citizens, non-profits, and public institutions to keep natural spaces in Murcia clean, beautiful, healthy, and resilient.