How to Dispose of Hazardous and Bulky Waste on Mallorca
Sandor Farkas
Founder and editor of Mallorca Plus
Helps expats and residents navigate authorities, housing and everyday life on Mallorca.
Old paint cans, a broken fridge, or a worn-out sofa: waste like this must not go into the regular bins on Mallorca. Disposing of hazardous waste the wrong way not only risks a fine, it also harms the island's fragile environment. The good news: for almost every problem item there is a clear and usually free route. This article explains what counts as hazardous and bulky waste, where to drop it off, and how the free pickup service works.
At a glance
Hazardous and bulky waste on Mallorca belongs at the Punt Verd (Deixalleria) or gets collected free of charge on request. For the Punt Verd you usually need a free access card from your municipality. Electrical appliances, paints, batteries, and old furniture must never go into the general waste bin.
What Counts as Hazardous and Bulky Waste?
Hazardous waste (Spanish residuos especiales) means waste that contains harmful substances or has to be treated separately for technical reasons, for example paints, solvents, used oil, batteries, fluorescent tubes, and electrical appliances. Bulky waste (trastos or enseres) refers to large items like furniture, mattresses, or household appliances that do not fit into a container.
The distinction matters because the two types are handled differently. Bulky waste is usually dismantled and partly recycled, while hazardous waste is disposed of separately so that pollutants do not end up in the soil and groundwater. How the regular separation system with the colored containers works is covered in our guide to waste separation and recycling on Mallorca.
The Punt Verd: the Central Drop-Off Point
The most important address for problem waste is the Punt Verd (also called Parc Verd in Catalan, Punto Limpio or Deixalleria in Spanish). This is the municipal recycling center where you can drop off hazardous waste and smaller amounts of bulky waste free of charge.
For access, many municipalities require a free access card, the Targeta d'Accés al Parc Verd. You apply for it at the town hall (Ajuntament) of the place where you live, usually by showing your empadronamiento. Without being registered locally, the card is often refused, which is one more reason the empadronamiento pays off.
Tip: check the opening hours first
Opening hours of the Punts Verds vary a lot from one municipality to the next, and many close at midday. When in doubt, call the Ajuntament or check your municipality's website before you show up with a full trunk in front of a locked gate.
A Punt Verd typically accepts these types of waste:
- Electrical and electronic scrap (fridge, TV, small appliances)
- Paints, varnishes, solvents, and used oil
- Batteries, rechargeable batteries, and fluorescent tubes
- Construction debris in household quantities
- Garden cuttings
- Smaller furniture and bulky items
Free Bulky Waste Pickup
If you have no van, you do not have to haul the old wardrobe to the recycling center yourself. Many municipalities offer a free bulky waste pickup on request. In Palma the municipal company EMAYA organizes it; elsewhere it is the local town hall or a contracted service.
Request an appointment
Arrange a pickup date with the municipal waste service online or by phone. In Palma this runs through EMAYA.
Put the waste out
Only place the bulky waste at the assigned spot on the evening before the agreed date, usually next to the general waste containers.
Wait for the pickup
On the collection day the bulky waste is picked up. Dumping items without an appointment can be penalized as illegal waste disposal.
Warning: no dumping next to the containers
Simply leaving furniture or appliances next to the containers is not bulky waste disposal, it is an offense. Fines can run to several hundred euros. Always wait for the agreed pickup date or take the waste to the Punt Verd yourself.
Old furniture does not always have to go, by the way: charities and second-hand shops are happy to take pieces in good condition. More on buying, selling, and disposing of furniture is in our guide to furnishing your home on Mallorca.
What Happens to Mallorca's Waste
A look behind the scenes explains why the separation matters so much. The island's non-recyclable general waste ends up centrally at the company TIRME's Son Reus plant near Palma. Since 2011 there have been no open landfills on Mallorca: waste that cannot be recycled is burned in a waste-to-energy plant.
That is exactly why sorting out pollutants beforehand is critical. Batteries, paints, or electronics in the general waste would release dangerous substances during incineration. If you separate hazardous waste consistently, recyclable materials stay in the loop and toxins stay out of the environment. How the island's disposal system is structured in detail is described in our post on waste disposal and the bins on Mallorca.
| Posten | Kosten | Dauer |
|---|---|---|
| Drop-off at the Punt Verd (household quantities) | free | as needed |
| Punt Verd access card | free | one-time |
| Bulky waste pickup (municipal) | usually free | by appointment |
| Private house clearance service | from approx. 100 € | depends on volume |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I drop off hazardous waste as a non-resident?
Even without an access card, many Punts Verds accept household quantities, sometimes on presentation of your ID. Ask your Ajuntament about the rules in your municipality beforehand, since they differ from place to place.
How much does bulky waste pickup cost on Mallorca?
In most municipalities the municipal bulky waste pickup is free for registered residents. Fees only apply for very large quantities or if you hire a private clearance company, where prices usually start at around 100 euros depending on the volume.
Conclusion
Hazardous and bulky waste can almost always be disposed of on Mallorca free of charge and legally. The route runs through your municipality's Punt Verd or the municipal pickup service, which in Palma means contacting EMAYA. What matters is that you never put pollutants or bulky items into the regular bin and never dump anything next to the containers. Once you have applied for the access card and know the opening hours, the rest is quick. You can find an official overview of the procedures directly at the responsible bodies: