Barcelona launches a major overhaul of its cleaning system in the city’s busiest district, Ciutat Vella. This move comes in response to growing resident dissatisfaction and constant pressure from tourists. The city authorities have decided to change the usual procedure to improve quality of life and keep the streets cleaner, especially in densely populated and high-traffic areas.
According to El Pais, under the Pla Endreça program backed by mayor Jaume Collboni, the city is allocating nearly forty million euros to enhance public spaces. The focus is on neighborhoods such as Barceloneta and Raval Nord, where complaints about dirt and litter have become a major topic among locals. City surveys show that cleanliness concerns are second only to issues like safety, noise, and tourist influx.
New cleaning methods
Authorities have decided to change their approach to street cleaning. Mechanical sweeping and water washing will now take place simultaneously, instead of one after the other as before. According to city services chief Carlos Vázquez, this method yields significantly better results. In some neighborhoods, cleaning frequency will increase to five or six times a week, and in certain spots, up to twice a day.
Special attention is being given to installing new garbage containers, including special models protected from rodents and seagulls. In neighborhoods with narrow streets, where it is impossible to place stationary containers, mobile waste collection points will be set up. City services will operate according to a schedule: two hours each in the morning and evening in every district, ensuring that residents can dispose of their waste conveniently.
Tackling street issues
Additional measures are already being implemented as part of the program. For example, bins have been installed that prevent seagulls and other birds from scattering trash. In addition, city services have created a detailed map of locations where urine traces are most frequently found and launched an active campaign against graffiti—more than 75,000 square meters of walls have been cleaned over the past year.
At the same time, campaigns to promote civic responsibility and introduce fines for littering are launching. Authorities emphasize that they are not just increasing funding but changing the entire philosophy of sanitation: clean streets should become the norm, not the exception.
Plans and Expectations
In the coming months, Ciutat Vella will begin implementing 135 separate measures and 42 major projects developed after a year of discussions with residents and testing new solutions. These include not only technical innovations, but also organizational changes aimed at more efficient allocation of resources and personnel.
According to El Pais, city officials do not disclose specific figures regarding the expected impact, but maintain that Barcelona already spends more on cleaning than any other municipality in the country. The main goal is not just to increase expenses, but to achieve real changes in the daily lives of residents and visitors.
In recent years, Barcelona has repeatedly set an example for other Spanish cities in urban management. In 2024, Madrid also launched pilot projects to combat street dirt and litter, while Valencia introduced mobile waste collection points in the historic center. These initiatives show that cleanliness in tourist cities is becoming increasingly important and requires a comprehensive approach.
