Mega milestone as Eco Amigos clear 1,344 bags of rubbish from Costa del Sol’s towns and beaches, how you can get involved

Eco Amigos have achieved something incredible, they have now removed a huge 1,344 large bags of rubbish from the natural spaces of the western Costa del Sol since 2024.

How the Eco Amigos total adds up

Founders Melissa and Danny Vaughn have announced that volunteers filled 525 large bags between January and September 2026. Add the 819 bags collected between November 2024 and November 2025, and the grand total reaches 1,344. Every bag has been correctly disposed of, so none of that waste is contaminating beaches, recreational areas, riverbeds or urbanisations.

Born in Casares Costa in late 2024, the group began when a small band of residents decided to take practical action against rising waste on local beaches and public areas. Their motto is “No one can do everything, but everyone can do something.”

Volunteers of many nationalities now meet, usually on a Sunday morning, for about an hour and a half of litter-picking around Casares, Manilva, Estepona and Marbella. They focus on rocky coastline, drainage channels and other places that council services cannot easily reach. Bags, gloves and litter pickers are provided free of charge, and families are welcome, so children can learn about caring for nature first-hand.

Monthly clean-ups will continue

Change is coming for the founders, who must move a two-hour drive away next month. Fortunately, core members of the volunteer crew have confirmed they will carry on with monthly clean-ups throughout the year. More details will follow from the team in due course.

Their most recent effort came in August, when seven volunteers rose early to beat the Spanish summer heat. Together they removed 37 bags of rubbish from woodland and roadside gutters near the petrol station, the Gavira furniture store and Restaurante Bahia de Casares. One third of that haul was recyclable.

What comes next for Eco Amigos and how you can help

Plenty of good work lies ahead. Melissa and Danny say more information on how to get involved in the autumn and winter clean-ups is on its way. Looking further afield, they hope to start a new Eco Amigos offshoot east of Málaga city in early 2027.

In their thank-you message, the founders praised everyone who helped reach this brilliant result, especially the core members who have given so much time and energy to preserve “our beautiful coast”. Well done to every “Amig@”

Fancy lending a hand? Join the Eco Amigos page on Facebook to get in touch with the organisers, or find out more at ecoamigos.net. Even one bag of rubbish makes a difference to the coast we all love.