Arenal Fights Back: 500 Signatures Against Garbage, Potholes and Decay

Angry, tired and ready to act: this is how residents of El Arenal describe their situation

When I walked along the Avinguda de Playa de Palma early last week, a pungent smell of stale refuse swept over the promenade. The garbage trucks apparently hadn’t started their rounds yet. Overflowing containers, bundles of paper on the pavement, and on one corner a manhole cover that has been missing for months – the scene repeats itself on streets like Carrer dels Pins and in the side streets behind it.

The campaign has a face: 500 signatures

Within three weeks residents collected around 500 signatures. The lists are to be handed over to the Llucmajor municipality. The demands are simple and concrete: regular emptying of containers, more trash bins at tourist access points, rapid repairs of sidewalks, functioning streetlights and a more visible presence of public order services.

A woman from Carrer dels Pins puts it bluntly: "We pay taxes. We don’t want our street to look like a backyard." Phrases like that are now heard here more often than the clinking of sunglasses in summer.

More than just trash: infrastructure, safety and the economy

The complaints go beyond the bins. Potholes in side streets, crumbling facades and broken lamps create places that feel unsafe, especially at dusk. Business owners on the beachfront report fewer visitors: guests stay away because the first impression matters—or doesn’t. "A café that smells of sewage in the morning won’t be recommended," says an operator with a half-smile that betrays little humor.

Less noticed is how such problems damage living and working conditions in the long term: damp walls, clogged drains and constant cleaning increase costs for landlords and businesses. At the same time, residents suffer from noise and odors—factors that affect health and sleep.

Why the problem is so persistent

El Arenal is historically complex: from hippie times through a massive tourism boom to dense development, much has changed. But responsibility, residents say, has remained diffuse. Responsibilities between the municipality, private service providers and landlords are often unclear. Seasonal peaks, a high share of short-term rentals and an ever-present mix of tourists worsen the situation.

Another, less-often mentioned aspect: cleaning and repair programs are frequently concentrated on the main promenade. The side streets where locals live suffer. Measures against littering are promoted but not enforced across the board. That frustrates residents—and has now driven them to the analogue: petition lists.

Concrete opportunities and solutions

The list of demands already contains practical approaches. An important step would be a phased action plan from the municipality with clear timeframes. Some suggestions that could show quick results:

1. Immediate measures: mobile, clearly visible trash bins at tourist access points; temporarily increased emptying in the early morning hours; repair the most dangerous potholes within 48 hours.

2. Medium term: a "street patrol" program for lighting and minor repairs; clearly communicated responsibilities between the municipality and private service providers; stricter enforcement against littering with fines.

3. Long term: a "Pact for El Arenal" with resident representation, hospitality businesses and landlords, in which duties and cleaning cycles are codified. Equally important: awareness campaigns for guests—fewer posters, more visible presence.

Volunteer actions can complement these measures, but must not replace the responsibility of the public authorities. And yes: a few more lights in dark corners would also improve the feeling of safety in the evenings.

What comes next

The list with 500 signatures is more than symbolism. It is a visible sign of impatience and anger. Residents have scheduled a handover appointment. What matters now are not new promises but timetables and the first visible measures.

Anyone walking through El Arenal hears the cries of seagulls, the hum of mopeds and sometimes the noise of cleaning machines—but not always at the right time. A little attention from the municipality, landlords and visitors would go a long way. The people who live and work here, and not only those who spend holidays, want respect for their everyday lives.

I will follow up and report as soon as the signatures have been officially handed over or the municipality announces initial steps.