How does waste sorting work in the Balearics, and what are the fines?

The Balearics follow Spain's national colour code for sorting: yellow for plastic packaging, blue for paper and cardboard, green for glass, brown for food waste, grey for everything else. Since late 2023, sorting food waste has become mandatory in every town across the archipelago, with fines possible for non-compliance. Here is how to find your way around it.

What goes in each container?

The brown bin, more recent, is not yet available everywhere: in Palma, it has been rolled out neighbourhood by neighbourhood since 2024. Since June 2026, EMAYA (Palma's waste management company) has introduced a new smart card to access it, with around 10,000 users already equipped by the end of June 2026.

Is food-waste sorting really mandatory?

Yes, since late 2023. National law 7/2022 requires separate collection of food waste at source: mandatory since 30 June 2022 for towns with more than 5,000 residents, and since 31 December 2023 for every other town, which now covers all Balearic municipalities. The obligation falls first on town halls, but it is town halls, through their own local bylaws, that can fine residents who fail to sort correctly.

What fines apply for incorrect sorting?

Amounts vary by town. As an example, local press reported in June 2026 fines ranging from 300 to 750 euros for minor infractions, up to 100,000 euros for the most serious cases involving residents' communities that fail to manage their waste properly. Some towns, such as Llubi and Felanitx, stepped up checks against illegal dumping in 2026.

Waste treatment: it works differently on each island

Mallorca incinerates its waste at the Tirme plant, while Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera still rely on landfill. Menorca must sharply reduce the volume sent to landfill by 2030 to meet EU targets (55 percent municipal waste recycling targeted, against 43 percent reached in 2025 on the island). On the good-practice side, Formentera and Ibiza posted the archipelago's best glass-sorting rates in 2025.

Where do you take bulky items and things that cannot go in the bin?

Recycling centres (punts verds) accept appliances, small construction waste, batteries, oils, clothes and furniture free of charge. Opening hours vary by town: contact your town hall for the nearest recycling point. In Palma, EMAYA also runs a free door-to-door bulky-waste collection, on a fixed day each week depending on the neighbourhood (furniture, mattresses and bikes accepted; appliances, rubble and hazardous waste refused, to be taken to a recycling centre instead).

Frequently asked questions

Where can you find your town's collection calendar?

There is no single app covering the whole archipelago. In Palma, the EMAYA app gives the calendar street by street. Elsewhere, contact your town hall (ayuntamiento) directly.

Can you really be fined for sorting incorrectly?

Yes, checks have been stepped up in several towns in 2026, particularly around illegal dumping and general non-compliance with sorting rules. Amounts vary widely from one town to another.

For other everyday habits, our guide to tap water in the Balearics and our piece on the cost of living in the Balearics round out this practical picture.

Information verified in August 2026. The Daily Baleares is an AI-assisted publication with human review.