San Javier Town Council has launched a new beach cleaning service designed to keep its coastline in good condition throughout the year. The service covers the beaches of Santiago de la Ribera, including La Hita, Barnuevo, Colón and Castillico, as well as the full length of La Manga del Mar Menor on both its Mediterranean and inland shores.

The scheme is intended to complement existing municipal resources rather than replace them. It will focus on tasks that standard beach cleaning machinery cannot manage, such as removing biomass and seagrass, clearing waste from hard-to-reach areas and emptying around 400 litter bins along the coast. Cleaning of access points, walkways, footbaths, toilets, lifeguard booths and Civil Protection posts is also included.

The operation will scale up during busy periods. In peak summer months, additional staff and equipment will be deployed, including night shifts in La Manga from midnight until 7am to ensure beaches are clean before visitors arrive.

At peak times, up to eight operators may be on duty, while winter services will continue at a reduced level. The council says the system is flexible enough to respond quickly to storms, heavy rain or sudden increases in visitor numbers.