Beach litter distribution along the western Mediterranean coast of Spain

The amount and composition of beach litter was assessed, during spring 2018, at 56 sites along the coast of Alicante Province, on the western Mediterranean Sea. Selected sites covered “natural” (19), “village” (17) and “urban” (20) bathing areas and a total of 10,101 litter items was counted in an area of 201,686 m2. Plastic represented the dominant material with 8345 items, i.e. 82.6% of all debris; paper and cardboard numbered 566 items (i.e. 5.6%); pottery and ceramics 348 (3.4%); metal 325 (3.2%); cloth 231 (2.3%); glass 147 (1.5%); rubber 64 (0.6%); wood 46 (0.5%) and other materials summed 29 items, i.e. 0.3% of all debris. Cigarette butts, 45.6% of total items, were observed at different coastal sites: i.e. 1028 units at natural, 1148 at village and 2431 at urban sites. Despite the efforts of local administrations, which enforced cleaning operations at most sites, litter items were essentially related to beachgoers followed by wastewater discharges and fishing activities. •10,101 litter items were counted at 56 beaches along the coast of Alicante Province (Spain).•Selected sites covered “natural” (19) “village” (17) and “urban” (20) bathing areas.•Plastic represented the dominant material with 8345 items, i.e. 82.6% of all debris.•Cigarette butts, 45.6% of total items, were observed especially at urban sites.•Litter items were related to beachgoers followed by wastewater discharges and fishing activities.