Rubbish collection and recycling in Malaga

Malaga has a well-organised system for rubbish collection and recycling, which helps keep the streets clean and minimises the impact on the environment.

One key aspect of rubbish collection in Malaga that sets it apart from some other places – particularly those in Northern Europe – is that rubbish is not collected directly from outside your house or apartment. Instead, you’re required to take your waste to the designated containers, which are strategically placed throughout the city, typically every couple of blocks.

This ensures that the streets remain clean and free from unsightly piles of rubbish which, especially in the hot summers, can quickly attract rats and cockroaches.

Sorting your rubbish

In Malaga, you’ll come across five main types of containers for sorting your waste:

1. Black = general waste. The black containers are for general household waste that cannot be recycled. This includes items like non-recyclable plastics, non-reusable materials, hygiene products and other miscellaneous waste.
2. Brown = organic. Brown containers are used for organic waste, such as food scraps, peels, and other biodegradable materials. This waste is collected separately for composting purposes.
3. Yellow = plastics. These containers are designated for plastic waste, including bottles, containers and packaging made of plastic.
4. Blue = paper and cardboard. The blue containers are specifically for paper waste. This includes newspapers, cardboard, magazines and other paper-based materials.
5. Green = glass. Glass containers are green, and they are meant for all types of glass products (not ceramic), such as bottles and jars.

Timing is important

To maintain a clean and hygienic environment, it’s important to follow the designated times for depositing your rubbish.

In Malaga, rubbish should, when possible, be placed in the appropriate containers between 9 and 11pm. This helps minimise the risk of bad smells and pest infestations.

Furniture and larger items

If you have large items of furniture that you need to dispose of, Malaga’s rubbish collection system also accommodates this. You can leave furniture next to the black containers, but only on the day and time specified on the attached sticker.

This ensures that bulky items are collected and disposed of properly, preventing them from becoming an eyesore in public areas.

Special items

If you’re lucky, your neighbourhood might have a special streetside “punto limpio” where you can take items such as used oil, batteries, coffee pods, ink cartridges etc.

However, if there’s not one closeby, or if you have a large amount of waste to dispose of, you can deposit it at the Punto Limpio Fijo found at Calle Hermanas Bronte, 87 (on the Guadalhorce industrial estate). The opening hours are from 7am to 9pm from Monday to Saturday and from 9am to 4pm on Sundays and public holidays.

Daryl Finch

Daryl is the co-founder of Malaga Guru. He is a copywriter, editor and translator who moved to Malaga a decade ago having first fallen in love with the city on his Erasmus year. After working for many years at local expat newspaper SUR in English, Daryl gained expert knowledge in life from the perspective of foreign residents and decided to co-found this site in 2016.