Moratalla, Beniel and Torre Pacheco are the winners of this edition, whose prizes can be used to implement actions related to environmental awareness in their municipalities.
July 21, 2026. The Regional Government, Ecoembes, and the Federation of Municipalities of the Region of Murcia continue to promote and support municipal initiatives to improve and encourage citizen participation in the selective collection of packaging. This was highlighted today by the Director General of the Environment, Juan Antonio Mata, during the presentation of the ninth edition of the Recycling Awards to Moratalla, where the event was held, as well as Torre Pacheco and Beniel. “These awards recognize the strong commitment to recycling plastic, metal, and beverage cartons, as well as paper and cardboard, by these municipalities and their residents,” Mata noted.
The awards, part of the "Unstoppable Movement" awareness campaign, are a joint initiative of the Government of the Region of Murcia, through the General Directorate of the Environment; Ecoembes; and the Federation of Municipalities to promote citizen participation in the selective collection of packaging. Moratalla has retained its first prize, with each resident depositing an average of 38 kilos of recyclable waste in the corresponding yellow and blue containers, 3,4 kilos more than in the previous edition.
For their part, Torre Pacheco and Beniel have also been recognized “for their outstanding commitment to recycling, contributing to extending this habit among citizens and improving regional recycling results,” explained the general manager, who thanked the mayors Juan Soria (Moratalla), Mari Carmen Morales (Beniel) and Pedro Ángel Roca (Torre Pacheco), the general secretary of the Federation of Municipalities of the Region, Antonio Moreno and the regional manager of Ecoembes, Juan Carlos Arranz, for their involvement in the objective of achieving “a more sustainable Region of Murcia”.
For his part, Antonio Moreno, Secretary General of the Federation of Municipalities of the Region of Murcia, emphasized that “municipalities are the level of government closest to the citizens and, therefore, the ones who make recycling a daily habit. The FMRM will continue working as a bridge between the municipalities, the Regional Government, and Ecoembes, so that each local council has the necessary advice and resources to move towards more sustainable management.”
In response, Juan Carlos Arranz, manager of Ecoembes in the Region of Murcia, emphasized that “every container correctly placed in the appropriate bin represents an opportunity to utilize resources and move towards a more circular economy. These awards recognize the commitment of the municipalities in Murcia and demonstrate that collaboration between government and citizens is key to continuing to improve recycling results in the Region of Murcia.”
The Recycling Awards and the 'Unstoppable Movement' initiative aim to highlight how small individual actions can transform society towards a more sustainable and circular model. The campaign has been promoted over the past year through media outlets and social networks, with a particular focus on regional radio and online publications.
In previous editions, the winning municipalities allocated the prizes to local improvement initiatives, such as renovating playgrounds, installing outdoor fitness equipment, or optimizing the recycling system. This approach reinforces the positive impact of recycling, beyond statistics, generating visible changes in neighborhoods.
