Altea’s historic balconies become an open-air art gallery this summer.
Photo Credit: Altea Department of Culture

More than 140 bars, restaurants and cafés across Calpe have joined forces with Ecovidrio as the Costa Blanca resort launches its latest summer drive to boost glass recycling during one of the busiest periods of the year.

The initiative, which began on July 1, sees the town competing against 28 other municipalities across the Valencian Community in the seventh edition of Ecovidrio’s Green Flags Movement. The campaign rewards coastal destinations that demonstrate the strongest commitment to glass recycling and the circular economy throughout the peak tourist season.

Calpe is aiming to retain the Green Flag of Sustainability it secured in the previous edition, reflecting the municipality’s ongoing efforts to reduce waste while welcoming thousands of holidaymakers over the summer months.

Why summer recycling matters

The campaign comes at a crucial time of year. Around one-third of all glass packaging placed on the market in Spain is consumed during the summer, when tourism reaches its highest levels. Restaurants, bars and beach clubs generate roughly half of all single-use glass packaging waste, making the hospitality industry central to improving recycling rates.

By encouraging businesses to recycle more effectively, organisers hope to reduce landfill waste, cut carbon emissions and promote a more sustainable tourism model along Spain’s coastline.

To support participating venues, Ecovidrio will install around 200 additional recycling containers and provide approximately 1,300 wheeled collection bins free of charge. Nearly 100 environmental educators will also visit businesses throughout the summer, offering advice on best recycling practices and helping establishments improve waste management.

More than just recycling

The Green Flags Movement doesn’t only measure how much glass is collected. Municipalities are also assessed on wider sustainability efforts, including responsible waste management, efficient use of water and energy, sustainable purchasing policies and public awareness campaigns.

This year, two hospitality businesses from the Valencian Community will also receive special recognition for their environmental commitment, with judges evaluating initiatives that go beyond basic recycling to embrace broader sustainable practices.

For a municipality to qualify for the Green Flag, at least half of its hospitality businesses must take part, while the town must also improve its separate glass collection compared with the previous year and actively promote recycling among residents and visitors alike.

Competition across Spain

The challenge extends far beyond Calpe. More than 120 coastal municipalities and over 12,000 hospitality businesses across Spain are participating in this year’s campaign.

Nine Green Flags will ultimately be awarded nationwide, with two going to municipalities in the Valencian Community. New for 2026, the highest-scoring municipality in each autonomous community will also receive a public environmental awareness campaign designed to further encourage residents and visitors to recycle.

As tourism continues to bring millions of visitors to Spain’s Mediterranean coast each summer, initiatives like this aim to ensure popular destinations such as Calpe can balance a thriving hospitality sector with stronger environmental responsibility, helping protect the coastline for future generations.

By Lottie Verrier • Published: 07 Jul 2026 • 15:10 • 2 minutes read

Huge funding for seafront restoration
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