Calpe beaches set for major upgrade with more staff, machinery and cleaning

Calpe is set to give its beaches a major cleaning boost, with a new service bringing extra workers, more machinery and increased cleaning frequencies throughout the year.

The new contract will come into operation on November 1, with the municipality investing €639,726.71 annually in the service.

That represents an increase of around 40 per cent compared with the previous contract, with the aim of providing a more comprehensive cleaning operation across Calpe’s coastline.

More frequent cleaning throughout the year

One of the biggest changes will be the amount of cleaning carried out outside the peak summer season.

The high season will run from June 1 to September 29, when the beaches will continue to receive daily cleaning.

During the medium season, running from March 13 to May 31 and from September 30 to November 7, cleaning will increase to six days a week.

The low season will also see beaches cleaned five days a week, meaning maintenance will be carried out more regularly throughout the year rather than focusing primarily on the busiest summer months.

Easter will have its own special cleaning schedule.

Extra workers and new machinery

The new contract will also significantly increase the resources available to the beach cleaning teams.

Four additional workers will join the service during the high season, with two extra employees during the medium and low seasons.

This will bring the daily workforce to 15 people during summer and nine for the remainder of the year.

The fleet is also being expanded, with beach cleaning machinery including two tractors and two towable beach cleaners. During the busiest months, a third tractor and beach cleaner will be added.

The service will also have a ride-on beach cleaner, a pick-up truck, a van, two open-bed lorries and a Gator 4×4 vehicle.

Additional equipment will include pressure washers, electric machines for cleaning walkways, electric blowers and specialist tools for working with sand.

New bins and cleaner coves

The upgrade will extend beyond Calpe’s main beaches.

The new service will also cover hard-to-reach coves, as well as occasional cleaning and maintenance work around cliffs, breakwaters, rocky areas and other sections of the coastline.

Around 150 new recycling bins will also be installed.

Regular duties will include screening and levelling sand, emptying bins, cleaning walkways and foot showers and dealing with accumulated seagrass.

The company’s operational base will also be upgraded to accommodate the larger fleet and additional equipment.

Calpe’s councillor for Environment and Beaches, Pere Moll, said the new contract would provide additional staff and machinery while allowing cleaning to take place more frequently throughout the year.

Mayor Ana Sala said the increased investment would provide a more extensive service designed around the municipality’s needs across all seasons.