The Santa Pola council has received this award, considered one of the most outstanding in urban cleaning, sustainable management, and waste collection innovation in Spain. The prize acknowledges the modernization of the municipal street cleaning service and the progress towards a more efficient and environmentally friendly model.

The mayor, Loreto Serrano, along with the Councilor for Cleaning, Encarni Ramírez, collected the award in Madrid during an event held at IFEMA Madrid, coinciding with the TECMA fair, a specialized meeting for urbanism and environment professionals.

The award highlights the increased mechanization of street cleaning services in Santa Pola, an improvement that has enhanced the service's performance and reach. The municipal fleet now comprises 40 units, 28 of which are electric, meaning 70% of the street cleaning machinery is zero-emission.

The service renovation has also led to a significant reduction in consumption. According to municipal data, Santa Pola has achieved a 65% saving in water and a 23% saving in energy due to the incorporation of more efficient machinery and the reorganization of urban cleaning resources. The service is operated by the concessionary company Urbaser.

Mayor Loreto Serrano emphasized that receiving this award "represents significant support for the environmental policies we are implementing in our municipality, especially given the added challenges of cleaning and waste collection in a tourist town during the summer season. It is direct recognition of both the technical efforts of the municipal services and the collaboration of the residents of Santa Pola themselves."

The Golden Broom Awards are presented every two years to recognize projects related to urban cleaning, waste management, and sustainability. The competition, established in 1987, distinguishes various categories and values the implementation of advanced technologies and sustainable machinery.