The municipality collected 1,570 tonnes of glass in 2025, averaging 20.4 kg per inhabitant, surpassing the national average (19.2 kg) and the provincial average (18.08 kg). It now joins Ecovidrio's campaign to improve even further in summer.
The Estepona City Council has announced its participation in the Green Flags Movement, Ecovidrio's campaign that rewards glass recycling in coastal municipalities. The announcement is backed by optimistic data: in 2025, the town collected 1,570.62 tonnes of glass containers, which amounts to 20.40 kilograms per inhabitant, above the national average (19.2 kg) and the provincial average (18.08 kg).
The municipality has 340 green containers, resulting in a ratio of 147.5 inhabitants per container, also higher than the national average. This means that residents have easy access to deposit their containers, a key factor in maintaining good figures.
The key role of the hospitality sector in summer
The campaign focuses on the hospitality sector, as during the summer months nearly 50% of single-use glass containers come from bars, restaurants, and beach bars. Throughout Spain, approximately one third of all glass containers sold annually are consumed in summer.
For this reason, the City Council and Ecovidrio have launched a plan for visits to establishments. Environmental educators will visit bars, restaurants, and beach bars to advise on the correct separation of containers, provide means for collection, and promote good environmental practices. Not only will recycling be assessed, but also the management of other waste, energy and water savings, responsible consumption, and the use of local products.
Additionally, the door-to-door collection service for the hospitality sector has already recovered 125.14 tonnes of glass during 2025, a figure that the City Council hopes to improve this summer with the involvement of more establishments.
Civic awareness and circular economy
At the same time, the City Council will develop awareness-raising actions aimed at residents and visitors to remind them of the importance of depositing containers in the green bin. A daily gesture that, according to Ecovidrio, helps reduce CO2 emissions, save raw materials and energy, and move towards a more efficient circular economy model.
For the residents of Estepona, this represents an opportunity to continue contributing to the sustainability of their municipality. Furthermore, the recognition from the Green Flags Movement is not just a title: it means that the locality is consolidating as a benchmark in recycling, something that can attract environmentally conscious tourists.
The City Council encourages all hospitality establishments and citizens to join the initiative.
“We want Estepona to continue leading glass recycling and to keep advancing towards an increasingly sustainable city model,” municipal sources state.
The campaign will run throughout the summer, coinciding with the increase in floating population. Interested parties can check recommendations on the municipal website or through the environmental educators who will visit the establishments. At the end of the season, Ecovidrio will evaluate the results and award green flags to the most committed municipalities and bars.
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