Malaga residents join forces to clean up their streets

Residents in Malaga City have taken to the streets and social media to protest against persistent street litter. Now locals are cleaning up their own streets.

This outcry comes after comments by Mayor Francisco de la Torre, who claimed he’d never heard of anyone complaining about trash in the street. Using the social media hashtag #Porrasyonomiento, has become a rallying cry for neighbourhoods like Camino de Suárez, Miraflores, Santa Paula, Las Delicias, and Haza Honda, where locals have photographed and documented uncollected bin bags, embedded dirt, and even rats near schools.

Teresa Porras threatened to sue the residents of the city for “lying” and dismissing their complaints. Porras defended Limasam, Malaga’s municipal cleaning firm, and cited uncivil behaviours, such as improper disposal of waste, as part of this problem. She was backed up by Mayor Francisco de la Torre, who praised Limasam and encouraged residents to adhere to urban regulations such as furniture disposal, water conservation and adapting to drought-proofing measures.

Residents are still not convinced. They claim that the cleaning is uneven and unfair. They accuse the council of prioritising areas such as the city centre and Teatinos, while neglecting neighbourhoods for the working class. The protests have been in many forms, from symbolic acts such as dumping bags of rubbish outside the Town Hall up to grassroots-organised clean-up initiatives. Residents in neighbourhoods such as Miraflores Dos Hermanas and Santa Paula have used mops and brooms to clean the streets to highlight municipal service shortcomings.

On Friday, August 1, the Carretera de Cádiz neighbourhoods of Las Delicias and Haza Honda joined the movement. Fed up of waiting for the council to respond, about 20 residents gathered outside the Las Delicias-Girón Citizen Center, cleaning sidewalks, bins, benches, and other public fixtures. Organised by the Malaga Ha Vesos Platform, this action was both a demonstration and an appeal to action. Residents criticized local associations for not supporting them. Videos shared by the @lasdeliciasmalaga Twitter account showed the community’s efforts as well their frustration at Porras, and his responses.

Malaga neighbourhoods have a positive side despite the conflict. It’s a characteristic that is very Andalusian: communities are joining together to not only protest but also take action. From Camino de Suárez to Haza Honda, residents are rolling up their sleeves, cleaning their own streets, and encouraging an infectious sense of unity. The grassroots effort is transforming frustrations into collective pride and proving that Malaga’s neighbourhoods shine when people work together.