Collection Systems in Spain 🇪🇸
About
Spain uses a color-coded container system with separate streams for packaging, paper, glass, and organics. The yellow container is strictly for 'envases' (packaging only), not all plastics.
Collection Streams
Light Packaging Recycling (Yellow Container) – 'Envases' Only
What goes in:
- Plastic packaging: bottles, trays, yogurt pots, film & bags
- Metal packaging: cans, aluminium trays, aerosol cans, metal caps/lids
- Briks / beverage cartons
What does NOT go in:
- Plastic objects that are not packaging: toys, kitchenware, tupperware-type items, etc.
- Metal objects that are not packaging: pots/pans, tools, cutlery, etc.
- Electronics/batteries/lamps
Notes:
- Spain's baseline rule is 'only the listed packaging' (envases)
- Ecoembes explicitly warns that it's a mistake to treat it as 'all plastic'
- Exception: some municipalities are piloting/allowing non-packaging plastic & metal in yellow (rare—check local rules)
Paper & Cardboard Recycling (Blue Container)
What goes in:
- Cardboard boxes, cartons, paper bags (packaging)
- Newspapers, magazines, office paper (non-packaging)
What does NOT go in:
- Briks / beverage cartons (even though they look 'cardboard') → yellow
- Used/greasy paper (napkins, kitchen paper) → usually brown if available
- Diapers/sanitary waste
Notes:
- Keep paper dry and flatten boxes
- The most common mistake is putting briks here
Glass Recycling (Green Container)
What goes in:
- Bottles and jars (food/drink)
- Perfume/cosmetic glass containers
What does NOT go in:
- Light bulbs / fluorescents
- Mirrors, window glass
- Drinking glasses, ashtrays, dishes, ceramics
Notes:
- Key message: 'vidrio vs cristal' — only glass packaging goes in green
- Other glass/ceramic items go to punto limpio
Bio-waste / Organics (Brown Container)
What goes in:
- Food scraps (fruit/veg, meat/fish), eggshells, shells
- Coffee grounds, tea bags
- Used napkins / dirty kitchen paper and paper/cardboard soiled with food/oil
- Often accepted: small garden waste (leaves/flowers)
What does NOT go in:
- Any packaging (plastic/metal/glass)
- Ceramics, diapers, wet wipes, cigarette butts, sweeping dust, pet waste/litter, hair
Notes:
- Coverage varies by municipality (some places still lack full brown-bin rollout)
- Spain's national waste law set deadlines for separate collection of household bio-waste (earlier for >5,000 inhabitants; then for the rest)
- Use compostable bags only if your municipality asks for them
Residual Waste (Fracción resto)
What goes in:
- Non-recyclable household waste: diapers, sanitary pads, wipes (if no separate rule), pet litter
- Toys, pacifiers/baby bottles, kitchen utensils (non-packaging items)
- Ceramics (plates), broken 'non-packaging glass' items
What does NOT go in:
- Organics (where brown bin exists)
- Recyclables that belong in blue/yellow/green
- Batteries, electronics, lamps, paint/chemicals, bulky items → punto limpio
- Medicines → pharmacy (SIGRE)
Notes:
- 'Resto' is the catch-all for what is not recyclable and not compostable
- In municipalities without brown-bio-waste collection, food waste often ends up here by default
Punto Limpio (Municipal Recycling Centre)
What goes in:
- WEEE (electronics), appliances
- Batteries, lamps/fluorescents
- Paints/solvents/chemicals, aerosols
- Used oils (cooking and motor)
- Bulky items (furniture/mattresses)
- Rubble (small amounts)
What does NOT go in:
- Regular bagged household waste (resto/organics/recyclables that belong in street bins)
Notes:
- What's accepted varies by municipality/site (fixed, mini, or mobile points exist)
- Generally free for household residents
Textiles (Clothes/Shoes)
What goes in:
- Clothes, shoes (usually in dedicated textile containers and/or punto limpio)
What does NOT go in:
- Soaked/contaminated textiles
- Mixed waste bags
Notes:
- Separate collection is part of Spain's legal framework
- How it's offered (street bins vs punto limpio) is municipal
Medicines (Punto SIGRE)
What goes in:
- Expired/unused medicines (contents) + their packaging (box + leaflet + container/blister), returned via pharmacy SIGRE point
What does NOT go in:
- Needles/sharps (except if inseparable & safely capped), thermometers, X‑rays, most dressings/gauze, chemicals
Notes:
- SIGRE collection is exclusively via pharmacies
- Not in yellow/blue/green, and generally not via punto limpio for medicines
Used Cooking Oil
What goes in:
- Used cooking oil (typically brought in a closed bottle to a dedicated oil container or punto limpio)
What does NOT go in:
- Motor oil mixed into cooking-oil collection (handled as hazardous)
Notes:
- Separate collection is part of the legal framework
- In practice it's often via punto limpio and/or dedicated neighbourhood containers
What Gets Collected
Accepted Items
- • Packaging materials (varies by stream)
- • Empty and clean containers
- • Material-specific items
Not Accepted
- • Non-packaging items
- • Contaminated materials
- • Hazardous containers with contents
Regional Variations
Collection systems in Spain may vary by municipality or region. Local sorting capabilities, collection infrastructure, and acceptance criteria can differ significantly even within the same country.
Important Notes
Spain's baseline rule is 'only the listed packaging' (envases)—the yellow container is NOT for 'all plastic', only packaging.
Empty and clean requirements apply—keep paper dry and flatten boxes.
Regional variations exist—some municipalities are piloting/allowing non-packaging plastic & metal in yellow (rare—check local rules).
Coverage varies by municipality—brown bio-waste bins are being rolled out but may not be available everywhere yet.
Sources
Collection system information is based on national and regional guidelines. For the most current and location-specific information, consult local waste management authorities.