Updates on the Plastic Observatory

Menorca Preservation launches a Plastic Observatory to better understand and address plastic pollution on the island

Three initial indicators are being analysed to deepen knowledge about plastics in Menorca

The Plastic Free Menorca Alliance, a project driven by Menorca Preservation, has received funding from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Natural Environment of the Government of the Balearic Islands to launch the Menorca Plastic Observatory—an innovative project aimed at improving knowledge, management and reduction of plastic waste on the island.

The Observatory was created with the purpose of establishing a system of objective and accessible indicators related to the management, impacts and regulations concerning plastics in Menorca. This information will be managed by the Plastic Free Menorca Alliance team and made available to public administrations, environmental organisations, educational centres, businesses and citizens, thereby promoting shared responsibility and informed decision-making.

The project includes the design and implementation of environmental indicators on plastics, with the goal of measuring and assessing their presence, management and impact on the environment. To this end, data will be collected and analysed from official sources and scientific studies, ensuring a solid and rigorous information base. The initiative has been underway since the beginning of 2025, and this funding will be used to analyse the first three indicators. Indicators are data sets used to track the evolution of a given phenomenon. In this case, the analysis will focus on plastic waste management, the environmental impact of plastics, and the level of compliance with plastic-related regulations.

This first year is conceived as the pilot phase of a long-term project that will allow the indicators to be updated annually:

“We have been working on the Observatory since the beginning of the year, when we realised the lack of information regarding plastic management, impacts, and compliance with regulations. At the same time, Plastic Free Menorca has spent the past year working on characterising plastic waste, and we wanted to share with Menorcan society all the knowledge generated through this detailed study of plastic pollution on the island,” explains Marta Pérez, Coordinator of the Plastic Free Menorca Alliance.

Based on the results obtained, digital outreach materials will be produced in Catalan, Spanish, English and French, using clear and accessible language for all audiences. Finally, the contents will be disseminated through local media, social networks and a public presentation open to citizens, encouraging awareness and public participation in reducing plastic use and pollution.

The funding granted will cover part of the development, communication and dissemination costs, while the remainder will be co-financed by Menorca Preservation.