Over 12 tonnes of waste removed from the ports of Ibiza and La Savina in a four-year clean-up of the water surface
The APB has allocated more than €1.3 million to this service provided by the Patena Ibiza-La Savina joint venture
Eivissa
12/03/2025
The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has removed over twelve tonnes of waste during clean-up operations carried out over the last four years in the ports of Ibiza and La Savina. The service is estimated to have cost more than €1.3 million and was carried out by the Patena Ibiza-La Savina joint venture, which is responsible for cleaning the water surface and combating environmental pollution in these two ports.
A total of 12,550 kg of waste was collected between October 2020 and October 2024, with just over 12,000 kg coming from the port of Ibiza and the rest, just over 500 kg, from La Savina. This work has been key to reducing pollution in port areas and improving water quality and the marine environment.
These details come from a summary report on the service, which shows that most of the waste collected falls into several categories. Firstly, the largest category, accounting for 54% of the total, is discarded material, namely, small organic and plastic waste that cannot be separated, as well as bulky items that cannot be reused.
Secondly, plastic waste and light packaging, including bottles, bags and packaging, account for 22% of the total. Organic waste, mainly vegetable waste from algae, plants or pieces of wood, is another important group, accounting for 21% of the material collected. Finally, the remaining 3% corresponds to other waste not included in the above groups.
Land-based origin
Land-based waste accounts for the majority of waste, at 40% of the total, while marine waste accounts for 21%. It is estimated that 20% of waste originates from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and includes wipes, condoms, sanitary pads and other personal hygiene items.
Fifteen per cent of the waste removed, such as life rings, bumpers and other debris accidentally dropped into the sea, accounts for 15%, while the remaining 4% is professional fishing nets and recreational fishing gear.
The material resources available to the APB for this service include an 8.5-metre electric pelican boat, a 7.6-metre semi-electric semi-rigid boat, a remote-controlled floating drone, an oil skimmer and a pickup truck.
The APB is rolling out its environmental strategy, which was approved in 2021 and includes, among other things, preventing discharges into the sea and monitoring water quality. However, discharges unrelated to port activity continue to occur and must be removed to achieve adequate water quality.
