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San Miguel cracks down on illegal dumping with €800 fine issued to offender
Nearby Orihuela Costa has been calling on the authorities to take tougher action for years
San Miguel de Salinas police have issued an €800 fine after identifying the person responsible for dumping rubbish illegally beside bins in the municipality, in a case the council says shows a clear example of environmental vandalism.
The town council confirmed that municipal services were called out immediately after the incident was reported, with teams moving in quickly to clear the waste and restore the area back to normal within a few hours. Local police then tracked down those responsible, leading to the penalty being issued under current regulations.
Officials said the dumping of rubbish in this way “seriously damages the environment and community life” and stressed that it is completely unacceptable behaviour.
The council also used the incident to remind residents that keeping public areas clean is a shared responsibility, and asked for greater cooperation from the community to avoid similar cases happening again.
While this specific case has been dealt with swiftly, it reflects a wider issue seen in many towns across the Costa Blanca and beyond, where rubbish is sometimes left next to bins rather than disposed of correctly. Residents are often reminded that bulky items such as furniture should not be left on the street without arrangement, and that local councils will usually collect large waste if contacted in advance to schedule a pickup.However, frustration among residents often comes from overflowing bins, particularly in busy coastal areas during the summer months when tourist numbers increase sharply. In places like Orihuela Costa, complaints about bin capacity and collection frequency have been ongoing for years, with waste sometimes piling up before it can be properly collected.
Despite that, authorities continue to insist that illegal dumping will not be tolerated and say fines will be issued where offenders can be identified.
Images: Ayuntamiento de San Miguel de Salinas
