Mallorca has developed into one of the islands with the strictest waste separation systems in Spain in recent years. If you are coming from Germany, much will feel familiar, but some details are different: bins are generally on the street, bulky waste is booked in advance, and every municipality has its own fee structure. This article explains how the system works, what the common mistakes are and where to take each type of waste.
Basic Separation System
Waste separation on Mallorca is based on Spanish waste law (Ley de Residuos y Suelos Contaminados) and is specified by municipal regulations. In practice this means: the basic system is the same across the island and the country, while details such as bin locations and fees are set by each municipality.
Separate streams collected:
- General waste (Fraccion Resto): grey or green bin
- Food waste (Organico): brown bin
- Paper and cardboard (Papel y Carton): blue bin
- Light packaging (Envases): yellow bin
- Glass (Vidrio): green igloo container
- Bulky waste (Voluminosos): via collection service or Punto Verde
- Special waste: Punto Verde (Deixalleria)
Separation is compulsory. Violations attract fines under the Ordenanzas Municipales. In Palma these range from 30 to 3,000 EUR depending on severity and repeat offence. In practice private individuals are rarely caught, but the penalties do hit when for example a full fridge ends up beside the paper bin.
Bin Colours and Contents
Bin colours are largely standardised across Spain. On Mallorca the following scheme applies.
| Colour | Contents | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Grey / Green | General waste | Nappies, cat litter, broken crockery |
| Brown | Food waste | Fruit and vegetable peelings, coffee grounds, teabags |
| Blue | Paper and cardboard | Newspapers, cardboard boxes, egg cartons |
| Yellow | Light packaging | PET bottles, plastic bags, yoghurt pots, Tetra Pak, tins |
| Green (igloo) | Glass | Wine bottles, jam jars, olive oil bottles |
| Orange | Cooking oil | Used kitchen oil (only in some municipalities) |
| Red | Hazardous waste | Batteries, medicines (only at selected locations) |
Common Sorting Mistakes
- Coffee grounds in the general waste: wrong - they belong in the food waste bin
- Pizza box with grease stains: the municipality decides; often general waste
- Broken glass: general waste, not the igloo (risk of injury to collectors)
- Till receipts: general waste, because they are thermally printed
- Plastic toys: general waste, not light packaging
Tip: Use the municipality's app
Most municipalities offer an app or website where you can quickly check which bin an item belongs in. In Palma it is the EMAYA app, in Calvia "Recicla" and the Consell de Mallorca has a waste guide. A quick look saves a lot of guesswork at the bin.
Times and Rules
In Palma the rule for private households is that general waste may only be placed in the bins between 20:00 and 23:00. The reason: hygienic collection during the night. Outside these hours fines apply. In villages and rural areas the rule is more relaxed; in the old towns of Palma, Soller or Pollenca it is often stricter.
Bulky Waste and Construction Rubble
Bulky waste (Voluminosos) covers everything that does not fit in normal bins: mattresses, sofas, larger furniture, large household appliances. In Palma, EMAYA organises collection. Smaller municipalities have similar systems.
Booking Bulky Waste Collection
- Visit the municipality's website or app (emaya.es for Palma)
- Register with your address, contact details and a description of the furniture
- Receive an appointment (usually within a week)
- Put the furniture on the pavement from 20:00 the evening before the appointment
- Collection in the morning (usually between 06:00 and 12:00)
Collection is free up to a certain quantity - in Palma roughly two items of furniture per month. For larger quantities, for example when moving out, there are paid special collections, or you take the bulky waste directly to the Punto Verde.
What Does Not Count as Bulky Waste
- Construction rubble: Must be taken separately to a recycling facility (MAC Insular, Son Reus). Costs per container 50 to 300 EUR.
- Garden waste: In many municipalities there are separate collection points or a collection service
- Electronic waste: To the Punto Verde; collection in Palma is possible but must be booked separately
- Special waste (paint, oil, chemicals): Only to the Punto Verde
Important: Do not simply leave furniture out
Many people move out and leave a wardrobe or sofa next to the rubbish bins. This is "Vertido Ilegal" and is penalised with fines of 300 to 1,500 EUR. Cameras at many collection points help to identify offenders. Always use the official collection service or the Punto Verde.
Punto Verde Facilities
Punto Verde (Catalan: Deixalleria) are the free recycling centres run by municipalities. Here you can drop off almost everything that does not fit in the normal bins: electronic waste, garden waste, used oil, paints, batteries, light bulbs, CDs, clothing, printer cartridges.
Punto Verde in and around Palma
- Son Reus: Main facility in the north of Palma, very wide range accepted
- Son Malferit: Business zone in the east
- Can Canut: Bunyola, large catchment area
- Sa Teulera: Calvia
- Inca: Central location for the north
- Manacor: For the east of the island
Opening hours are often 08:00 to 20:00 on weekdays, Saturday morning only, closed on Sunday. For private individuals the visit is free of charge. Businesses and commercial users must book in advance and pay by weight. The exact list of accepted materials is on the municipality's website.
What to Bring to the Punto Verde
- Old furniture (smaller quantities without a collection appointment)
- Small and large electrical appliances
- Batteries and rechargeable batteries
- Light bulbs, energy-saving bulbs, fluorescent tubes
- Paints, varnishes, solvents
- Car batteries, used oil
- Garden waste (larger quantities)
- Textiles and shoes
- CDs, DVDs, cassettes
- Printer and toner cartridges
Practical Tips for Your Visit
- Bring your ID or NIE (checks are possible)
- Receipt for new purchase helps with electronic waste returns
- Split larger quantities and plan several trips
- Empty plastic bags and cardboard boxes on site and take them home
Waste Fees
The waste fee (Taxa de Residus or Tasa de Basura) is levied once a year by the Ayuntamiento. It is not part of the property tax (IBI) but a separate charge. A full overview of the ongoing costs of a property can be found in the article on running costs on Mallorca.
Typical Fees 2026
| Municipality | Apartment | Detached house | Commercial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palma | 150 to 220 EUR | 180 to 280 EUR | 300 to 3,000 EUR |
| Calvia | 120 to 200 EUR | 180 to 320 EUR | from 400 EUR |
| Andratx | 130 to 210 EUR | 170 to 300 EUR | from 350 EUR |
| Soller | 100 to 180 EUR | 150 to 280 EUR | from 300 EUR |
| Pollenca | 110 to 200 EUR | 160 to 300 EUR | from 350 EUR |
| Manacor | 90 to 170 EUR | 140 to 260 EUR | from 250 EUR |
| Inca | 95 to 175 EUR | 140 to 250 EUR | from 250 EUR |
Calculation in many municipalities is based on rateable value and floor area. Some municipalities use flat rates, others tier by number of occupants. A reduction of 20 to 50 per cent is often available for retirees, low-income families and families with multiple children.
Payment
- Bill arrives once a year, usually in spring or summer
- Direct debit is common and often gives a discount (2 to 5 per cent)
- Non-payment leads to a reminder process plus a surcharge
- The owner pays the fee, even when renting out (but can pass it on to the tenant if stipulated in the rental contract)
Tip: Set up direct debit
Have the waste fee debited by SEPA direct debit from your Spanish account. Many municipalities give a discount for this. You also avoid reminders if you are abroad or miss the post. Register online or in person at the Ayuntamiento.
Differences by Municipality
Every municipality on Mallorca has minor variations. The most important differences.
Palma
- Largest city, dense bin network
- Time rule: general waste only between 20:00 and 23:00
- EMAYA app with appointment booking and waste guide
- Old town: mandatory doorstep collection, no street bins
Calvia
- Many holiday apartments, seasonally increased volumes
- "Recicla Calvia" app, bulky waste collection service
- Punto Verde at Sa Teulera
- Stricter controls in holiday resort areas
Andratx and Soller
- Old towns with limited bin space
- Food waste collection not available everywhere
- Mandatory doorstep collection in parts of Port de Soller
- Stricter rules on plastic and composting
Rural Municipalities (Arta, Felanitx, Porreres)
- Fewer bins, but frequent emptying
- Farms with their own composting common
- Central collection points in village centres
- Bulky waste often only once a month
Tourism Regions (Arenal, Playa de Palma, Port d'Alcudia)
- Extreme seasonal fluctuations
- Commercial operators with their own contracts
- Tourist waste partly handled by hotels
- Beach cleaning organised separately
For more information on running costs and charges, we recommend our article on running costs of a property. Anyone moving into a new home should also transfer the utility contracts into their own name, as described in the article on setting up electricity, water and internet.
Anyone who takes waste separation seriously from the start has the routine down after a few weeks. A handful of bin colours, a quick check of the app and the occasional trip to the Punto Verde. That is less effort than you might think, and it makes a real difference for an island that faces mountains of waste every summer.