How did the idea of PRAPs come about?
The idea for the Beach Item Reuse Points (PRAPs) arose during the development of the Action Plan for the Reduction of Plastic Pollution in Menorca, carried out in collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 2021.
This plan dedicated a specific section to the tourism sector and, through a participatory process with industry stakeholders, identified a specific need: to create spaces where beach items could be reused. This demand came both from customers — interested in avoiding unnecessary purchases — and from the tourist accommodations themselves, many of which had limited space at reception to store these products.
Who designed the PRAPs?
The PRAPs were designed by the Plastic Free Menorca Alliance in collaboration with Carpintería Manuel Romero, following criteria of functionality, sustainability, and durability.
They have been built from reused pallets, which not only provide weight and stability against the wind but also allow umbrellas to be stored safely thanks to the structured walls of the pallet itself.
Each point includes information signs in Catalan, Spanish, and English, to facilitate use by residents and visitors from different backgrounds.
Where have the PRAPs been installed?
In 2023, we carried out a pilot test installing PRAPs in two types of locations: beaches and businesses (tourist accommodations and other services). The aim was to assess the advantages and disadvantages of each context. On beaches, we allow public use of beach items, but this results in a higher rate of incidents (litter, broken products, etc.) and therefore more need for monitoring and resources from Plastic Free Menorca. In businesses, the incident rate is significantly lower, and we believe there is greater reusability of products.
Despite the differences, we have chosen to maintain both locations, as both contribute to the goal of reducing waste and promoting reuse.
Current PRAP network in Menorca (2025)
- 7 on beaches: Santandria (Ciutadella), Cala en Bosc (Ciutadella), Arenal d'en Castell (Es Mercadal), Son Parc (Es Mercadal), Punta Prima (Sant Lluís), Binibèquer (Sant Lluís), and Binisafúller (Sant Lluís).
- 19 in accommodations: Royal Son Bou Family Club, Camping Son Bou, Camping S’Atalaia, Seth Mestral-Llebeig (2), Seth Isla Paraiso, Apartamentos Nure Cel Blau and Nure Mar, Carema Beach Menorca, Grupotel Playa Club, Artiem Audax, Minura Cala Galdana, Agroturismo Llucasaldent Gran, Carema Club Resort, Minura Sur Menorca, Zafiro Menorca (2), Alua Illa de Menorca, Alua Mediterráneo.
- 2 in car rentals: Autos Menorca and Autos Valls.
- 1 at a Green Point: Alaior Recycling Centre.
How do we estimate the impact?
Measuring the real impact of initiatives like this is not easy, which is why we work with estimates based on minimum values and data collected during PRAP monitoring.
Users
We estimate an average of 3 users per day per PRAP, according to periodic monitoring. Use is generally higher in tourist accommodations than on beaches.
With 27 active PRAPs and a high season of 182 days (from May to October), this translates to approximately 14,742 users per year.
Items reused
We calculate that each PRAP contains at least 100 reused items throughout the season. This figure is based on direct observation, ongoing monitoring, and the constant contribution of items from the Plastic Free Menorca Alliance.
Thus, with 27 PRAPs, it is estimated that at least 2,700 products are reused each year.
These figures reflect the potential of a simple yet effective action to reduce waste and foster a more circular economy in Menorca’s tourism sector.
Great reception from businesses and users
The results of the evaluation by businesses with PRAPs show high acceptance from both businesses and their customers. 66.7% of respondents consider PRAP use to be “high” or “very high”, especially during the high season. Furthermore, 91.7% of customers rated the service as “excellent”, highlighting the possibility of giving beach items a second life, saving money on product purchases, and having a positive impact on waste reduction. All participating businesses confirmed their intention to repeat the initiative next year and to recommend it to others in the sector.
Cyprus and Menorca united in beach reuse
In Cyprus, PASCAL Private English School Lefkosia and PASCAL Private Greek School Lefkosia have launched a project similar to our PRAPs. The ReBlue initiative, led by students from these schools, involves building boxes to reuse beach games. These students visited us in February 2025 to exchange experiences.
