The Marbella Town Hall has announced the renewal and expansion of 80 informative signs warning of fines for leaving rubbish outside bins, even if they are full. The measure aims to prevent uncivil behaviour and improve urban cleanliness.
The Marbella Town Hall has launched a signage campaign to remind residents that leaving rubbish outside bins can be costly. From this Tuesday, 80 new signs are being installed at various points in the municipality, with messages warning of financial penalties for abandoning waste in public spaces.
A measure to curb incivility
According to municipal sources, the initiative aims to reinforce public information and prevent behaviours such as depositing rubbish outside bins, uncontrolled dumping, or failing to pick up animal excrement. The signage is divided into three types: 50 informative signs about waste disposal times, 20 related to the obligation to pick up excrement, and 10 that prohibit unauthorised dumping.
The local government team emphasises that the municipal ordinance already includes these prohibitions, but an increase in violations has been detected, especially in areas of high population density and during the summer months. With the new signs, they aim to ensure that no resident can claim ignorance.
The dilemma of the full bin
However, the measure has generated doubts among citizens. The regulations prohibit leaving bags on the ground but do not specify what to do when the bin is completely full because the collection service has not passed with the necessary frequency. It is a common scene: a resident takes down the rubbish, finds the bin overflowing, and does not know whether to take it back home or leave it beside the bin.
The Town Hall does not offer a clear solution. They merely remind that the penalties are in effect and that the signs are a tool for deterrence. The question many are asking is: can someone be fined for leaving rubbish outside because the bin is full? The answer, according to municipal sources, is that it depends on the circumstances, but the ordinance does not provide exceptions for lack of bin capacity.
For the resident of Marbella, this represents a new source of confusion. In summer, the increase in population and the reduced frequency of collection in some areas exacerbate the problem. The signs threaten fines but do not address the underlying issue: bins that become saturated before the rubbish truck arrives.
A reinforcement of existing signage
The new signage replaces and expands upon what already existed, which was deteriorated or insufficient. According to the Town Hall, they have been placed in strategic locations: near the bins, in parks, and in thoroughfares. The signs include pictograms and clear texts, in Spanish, to facilitate understanding.
The municipal ordinance also prohibits throwing glass between 10:00 PM and 8:00 AM to avoid nighttime noise. The disposal of waste for selective collection (plastic, paper, organic) can be done without time restrictions, as long as it does not cause disturbances.
The Town Hall reminds that fines for abandoning rubbish in public spaces can reach up to 750 euros, and that Local Police officers and cleaning inspectors are authorised to impose fines. The measure, according to municipal sources, is not aimed at generating revenue but at raising awareness.
For citizens, the practical recommendation is: if the bin is full, it is best to take the bag back home and wait for the collection truck to pass. Or, if possible, use another nearby bin. But in summer, with the heat, it is not always easy to keep waste for another day. The controversy is served.
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