Volunteers cleaning Montjuïc mountain in Barcelona on Sunday encountered a stark reality: much of the rubbish was not from littering, but from homelessness. Participants in the clean-up found discarded items like damaged bed frames, dirty blankets, and broken tents, indicating the presence of rough sleepers on the mountain.
Eulàlia, a long-time volunteer with the Cuidem Montjuïc association, told betevé, "We find all types of waste, much of which, unfortunately, is generated by people living on Montjuïc." Another volunteer, Stefano, expressed sadness at finding 'people's clothes, blankets, or shoes'. Volunteers had to be careful, identifying what could be removed and what might be personal belongings of those sleeping rough.
One group of volunteers discovered a tarpaulin covering a bed frame that appeared to be in use and decided not to disturb it. However, they removed a mattress found abandoned in some bushes. Forty volunteers participated in this year's event, collecting 140 kilos of rubbish.
Community Action for Montjuïc
The clean-up was organised by Cuidem Montjuïc, an association that has been running the initiative for six years. Chantal Hubert, from Cuidem Montjuïc, explained that three neighbours from Poble-Sec started the clean-up after noticing how dirty the mountain had become. Their aim was to involve local residents, "to create community and do positive action together."
The Aula Ambiental de Sants-Montjuïc supports the initiative, including it in its schedule of free activities. Gemma Rovira, the centre's coordinator, highlighted their goal: "We look for practical ideas to give citizens tools to be more resilient to climate change."
For the clean-up, volunteers divided into several groups to cover different areas of the mountain. They spent an hour collecting rubbish before bringing it to the Aula Ambiental de Sants-Montjuïc, located in the Jardins de Joan Prats. There, they separated the waste by type for recycling and weighed it.
During the sorting process, volunteers again found evidence of social issues affecting the mountain, such as nitrous oxide canisters, also known as 'laughing gas'. The ongoing presence of these items points to broader challenges beyond simple littering, requiring a more comprehensive approach to support vulnerable individuals.
