The cleanliness and urban maintenance of Estepona have come under fire from the PSOE political party, along with various other political figures and local residents who express their concerns on social media. Complaints regarding waste management, insufficient street cleaning, and maintenance issues across different parts of the town are being raised, coinciding with discussions about a significant increase in municipal investments to €86.5 million.
A photograph circulating online depicts a pile of waste, including furniture and cardboard, next to a container in a wooded area of Estepona. This image has sparked public comments about cleanliness, waste removal, and the upkeep of locations outside the more central parts of town.
Among the comments, one resident, C. L., argues that such accumulations do not appear “spontaneously” and calls for increased monitoring to deter anti-social behavior. They suggest that the local government should implement measures to identify those who improperly dispose of waste and impose penalties where necessary.
Other residents share similar concerns but emphasize the response from public services. K. S. acknowledges that littering results from irresponsible actions but insists that the cleaning service is “not adequately sized for reality” and should ensure effective responses in all areas of Estepona.
Discussions among residents also reference the Cancelada area, where one participant claims that some waste has gone uncollected for several days. This assertion, however, has not been independently verified.
The Socialist Municipal Group in Estepona has sought explanations from the local government after confirming a municipal intervention report indicating a failure to comply with spending rules in the second quarter of 2026.
According to the PSOE, the computable expenses have risen by 12.15%, exceeding the permitted 3.5%, resulting in a deviation of nearly €10 million for that quarter. They also remind that the municipality exceeded spending limits by approximately €25 million in 2025.
The real investment chapter has increased from €27.7 million to €86.5 million, a rise of nearly €59 million and an increase of over 200% compared to the previous figure.
Socialist spokesperson Emma Molina questions why this surge in investment does not translate into adequate attention for daily services, stating, “Residents are still finding dirty streets, neglected gardens, and maintenance issues.” She added, “We do not dispute the need for investment; we question why spending on large projects skyrockets while everyday needs are neglected.”
The political discontent is not limited to the PSOE. Aurora Fernández Fernández, a representative from the Podemos circle in Estepona, has publicly commented on the lack of cleanliness and the deterioration of some streets in the town.
Fernández specifically pointed out certain areas near the urban center and outskirts, highlighting maintenance issues such as raised paving stones. She also raised concerns about the responsiveness to incidents reported through the Green Line.
Her remarks add to the criticisms from the PSOE and residents regarding cleanliness but are separate from the PSOE’s claims of non-compliance with spending regulations.
Common themes in social media comments include calls for stricter control over improper waste disposal and a more prompt response from the cleaning service. B. G. D. questions whether the current conditions reflect the tax levels paid by residents, while J. M. believes that solutions should include penalties, education, and community awareness.
The Estepona City Council’s website contains posts related to cleaning, waste collection, and sanitation, though the latest updates under the cleaning category are outdated.
The most recent entry dates back to September 12, 2019, discussing the clearing of eight urban streams to prevent flooding. Although categorized under cleaning, the focus is on maintenance work on waterways.
The entry preceding it was from August 9, 2017, announcing increased machinery for cleaning and waste collection services during the summer.
Two earlier references are from 2012: one details a cleaning plan for sewers that covered ten kilometers of the sewage network, and the other announces the signing of a cleaning contract, which the municipality claimed would save €13 million over the concession period.
The absence of more recent updates in this specific section does not imply that no actions have taken place or that the City Council has not communicated through other channels, but it highlights a lack of current publications related to routine cleaning, street washing, waste removal, awareness campaigns, resource reinforcement, or measures against illegal dumping.
The PSOE also warns that the increase in expenditures is being financed partly through treasury remnant funds. They argue that relying on this resource cannot become a permanent solution if structural spending continues to outpace revenue.
Furthermore, they criticize the absence of a specific budget allocation for public or affordable housing, asserting that young people in Estepona are increasingly finding it difficult to access housing in the municipality.
This debate about cleanliness extends beyond political opposition and into community discussions. While the PSOE seeks clarification about spending and investments, comments from residents and Podemos emphasize the need for effective maintenance, waste collection, and care for the streets across all neighborhoods, developments, and areas of Estepona.
Source: Estepona Info