Palma mayor Antoni Noguera has used his Facebook profile to apologise for the city's uncleanliness. Saying that "self-criticism" is inherent to municipal management, he offered his apologies for inconveniences caused by "some anomalous situations".
He added that the city's cleanliness is one of this summer's most important issues for the public. The summer is "always more complex with regard to cleanliness". This is because an increased population generates more waste. As this year there are record numbers of tourists, so there is more of a problem. He accepted, however, that this doesn't "exempt" Palma from being clean.
He stressed that the town hall is working hard in reversing "the negative effects". The municipal services agency Emaya is undertaking "historic investment" in changing rubbish containers and machinery. But tenders for new trucks and new water equipment take time, as vehicles have to be "adapted to the needs of the city". The investment will be 20 million euros.
Noguera said that even once this process of renewal is completed, there will be trucks that are more than twenty years old as well as very old containers and water vehicles. He was optimistic, however, that before the end of the year there will be all the means needed for "a modern and European city". "It will be a substantial change that will very have a very positive impact on the city."