This recognition adds to the recent confirmation of Blue Flags for its beaches and the Marina del Este yacht club, reaffirming Almuñécar and La Herradura as leading tourist destinations on the Andalusian coast. The Platinum Broom distinction highlights the continuous efforts of the city council to maintain its coasts in optimal conditions.

The water surface cleaning system, which was key to receiving the award, focuses on removing floating debris such as plastics, hydrocarbons, and algae. Specialized vessels, marine drones, and containment barriers are used for this purpose, ensuring the health of the marine surface. This method has allowed for the removal of waste that cannot be managed by land-based cleaning services, adapting to the specific needs of the Sexitan coastline and ensuring safety in coastal areas.

For over a year, two vessels and four operators have been working at sea, using hydraulic baskets, each two meters long, capable of covering up to four meters of surface in each pass. Thanks to these “sea sweepers,” the coast of Almuñécar has managed to collect up to a ton of trash in a single summer.

The Platinum Broom is the highest award in the 'Silver, Gold, and Platinum Brooms' competition, organized by the Technical Association for Waste Management, Street Cleaning, and Environment (ATEGRUS). This award, granted since 1987, recognizes public and private entities for their outstanding practices in cleaning and sustainable projects. To be eligible for the Platinum Broom, it is a requirement to have previously obtained the Gold or Silver Broom, demonstrating a consolidated track record in environmental management.

The official awards ceremony will take place on June 10 at IFEMA Madrid, within the framework of events organized by ATEGRUS, where the Almuñécar city council will attend to collect this important recognition for its environmental excellence.