Waste Disposal Guide: Orihuela Costa, Spain
To dispose of waste correctly on the Orihuela Costa, you must use the color-coded public street containers, utilize the free municipal collection service for bulky items, or visit a mobile recycling point. Leaving waste on the street or beside containers without authorization is illegal and can result in civil fines up to €3,000.
1. Street-Level Recycling Containers
The Orihuela Town Hall manages a network of localized street-side container islands for daily household sorting:
- Yellow Bins: Plastic packaging, plastic bottles, food cartons (Tetra Paks), metal cans, and tins.
- Blue Bins: Paper, cardboard, newspapers, and flattened cardboard boxes.
- Green Bins: Glass bottles and jars only (remove plastic caps or corks). Do not throw ceramics or window glass here.
- Grey Bins: General non-recyclable waste, sanitary items, or broken ceramics.
- Brown Bins: Organic kitchen scraps and food waste.
Note: General or organic waste should only be placed in the bins inside closed plastic bags, typically between 8:00 PM and 11:00 PM to control odors and heat pests.
2. Bulky Items & Furniture Collection (Enseres)
You cannot leave mattresses, sofas, or appliances by the standard public bins without notifying the council first.
- The Service: The council offers a free collection service operating 6 days a week across rotating coastal urbanizations (like Playa Flamenca, La Zenia, Campoamor, and Villamartin).
- How to Book: You must call +34 966 076 100 (Extension 4500) or email the department at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to report the items and find out your designated collection day.
- Placement: Once confirmed, place the bulky items neatly next to your nearest bin island after 8:00 PM the evening before your scheduled pickup.
3. Garden and Pruning Waste (Podas)
Small quantities of garden waste should be placed in closed bags and put into the grey bins. For larger amounts of garden clippings and trimmings up to 1 cubic meter:
- You must coordinate collection in advance by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
- Bundle branches or place loose leaves into large garden waste sacks.
- Do not leave loose piles of branches on the street, which creates fire and pedestrian hazards.
4. Special and Hazardous Waste (Ecoparque Móvil)
Items like electronics, batteries, lightbulbs, chemicals, oils, and small appliances cannot go into street bins. You must bring them to the Ecoparque Móvil (Mobile Eco-Park), which sets up weekly at specific schedule points:
- Thursdays: Calle Mar, near the Aguamarina-Campoamor market.
- Saturdays: Calle Salvador Dalí, near the Playa Flamenca street market.
- Alternate Wednesdays: C.C. La Fuente shopping area.
If you spot broken bins, missed pickups, or illegal dumping in your neighborhood, you can report it directly to the municipality using the free Línea Verde smartphone application.
