Andorra (AD)
Andorra is a tiny parliamentary co-principality nestled in the Pyrenees mountains between France and Spain, governed jointly by the French President and the Bishop of Urgell.
Recycling & Waste in Andorra
Bin system, bottle deposits, special disposal, and common mistakes.
Waste management in Andorra is managed by each of the 7 parish Comús (local governments) in coordination with COMAANDORRA (the inter-communal waste management authority). Andorra uses a colour-coded recycling bin system broadly aligned with Spanish and Catalan standards — familiar to residents from Spain and France. The main recycling containers (contenidors) are located on public streets throughout all parishes. Andorra has committed to EU-aligned waste management targets under its 2030 sustainability strategy and has been progressively improving recycling infrastructure. There is no at-home kerbside recycling collection — all sorting is done by residents at the communal street containers. The waste collection system is funded through Comú municipal taxes (taxes comunals). Andorra's compact geography means no recycling point is more than a few hundred metres from any residential property.
The Bin System
General Waste (Residual Waste)
Grey or dark blueContenidor de Rebuig
- ✓Non-recyclable waste: contaminated packaging, food-soiled wrapping, tissues, hygiene products
- ✓Ceramic and porcelain items (not recyclable in glass)
- ✓Multi-layer packaging (chip bags, tetra pak if no separate collection)
- ✓Broken crockery
- ✓Soiled nappies and sanitary products
- ✓Vacuum cleaner dust and bags
- ✗Cardboard (yellow/brown container)
- ✗Glass bottles and jars (green iglú container)
- ✗Plastic bottles and cans (yellow container)
- ✗Paper (blue container)
- ✗Organic food waste (brown container where available)
- ✗Batteries, electronics, or hazardous waste
Paper and Cardboard
BlueContenidor de Paper i Cartró
- ✓Newspapers, magazines, books (no coated cover)
- ✓Cardboard boxes (flattened)
- ✓Cardboard packaging (cereal boxes, pizza boxes without grease)
- ✓Paper bags and wrapping paper
- ✓Envelopes (remove plastic windows if possible)
- ✓Egg cartons (paper type)
- ✗Greasy cardboard (pizza boxes with food residue — general waste)
- ✗Waxed or plastic-coated paper
- ✗Paper towels, tissues, or napkins (general waste)
- ✗Carbon paper or thermal paper (receipts)
Plastic Packaging, Cans, and Cartons
YellowContenidor d'Envasos (Plàstic, Llaunes i Brics)
- ✓Plastic bottles (water, soft drink, shampoo, cleaning products)
- ✓Plastic containers and trays (rinsed)
- ✓Plastic bags and film packaging
- ✓Aluminium cans (beverage and food)
- ✓Tin/steel food cans (rinsed)
- ✓Tetra Pak and brick cartons (juice, milk, soup)
- ✓Aluminium foil and trays (clean)
- ✓Aerosol cans (empty, no pressure remaining)
- ✗Glass (iglú container)
- ✗Electronics or batteries
- ✗Plastic toys or non-packaging plastics
- ✗PVC pipes or building materials
Glass
Green (iglú — bell-shaped street container)Iglú de Vidre
- ✓Glass bottles (wine, beer, spirits, water)
- ✓Glass jars (food preserves, jam)
- ✓Glass cosmetic bottles
- ✓Coloured and clear glass equally accepted in same iglú
- ✗Window glass, mirror glass, or tempered glass (take to deixalleria)
- ✗Ceramic, porcelain, or crystal (general waste)
- ✗Light bulbs or fluorescent tubes (deixalleria)
- ✗Pyrex or oven glass (general waste)
- ✗Bottle caps or metal lids (yellow container)
Organic and Food Waste
BrownContenidor Orgànic / Contenidor Marró
- ✓Fruit and vegetable peelings and trimmings
- ✓Meat and fish scraps
- ✓Cooked food leftovers
- ✓Coffee grounds and paper filters
- ✓Tea bags (paper, not plastic mesh)
- ✓Eggshells
- ✓Paper napkins and cardboard contaminated with food
- ✓Cut flowers and small plant matter
- ✗Plastic bags (use compostable bags where required)
- ✗Glass, metal, or plastic packaging
- ✗Animal faeces
- ✗Oil and fat (use specific oil containers or take to deixalleria)
Special Disposal
Deixalleria (civic amenity site) in your parish. Also: certain electronics retailers accept old equipment when you buy new (return scheme). Contact your parish Comú for nearest deixalleria location and opening hours.
Do not put electronics in general waste — Andorra follows EU WEEE directive standards. Computers, phones, TVs, small appliances all qualify. Free disposal at deixalleria.
Yellow battery collection bins at supermarkets (Pyrénées, El Corte Inglés, Bon Preu), pharmacies, and parish offices. Deixalleria also accepts batteries.
Never dispose of batteries in general waste — chemical hazard. Lithium batteries from e-bikes, power tools, and phones: take to deixalleria specifically; do not place in retail collection boxes.
Yellow cylindrical oil collection bins located at supermarket car parks and some public squares. Parish Comú offices can advise on nearest collection point.
Never pour cooking oil down drains — clogs pipes and contaminates water. One litre of used oil can contaminate up to 1,000 litres of groundwater.
SIMAP (Sistema Integrat de Medicaments i Aparells Psicoactius) collection boxes at all pharmacies in Andorra. Drop unused medicines and empty packaging.
Never flush medicines down the toilet or bin them in general waste. The SIMAP system ensures pharmaceutical waste is safely processed.
Book collection through your parish Comú (call or visit the Comú office). A collection vehicle is dispatched for large items. Alternatively deliver directly to the deixalleria.
Do not leave furniture on the street without booking a collection — illegal dumping is subject to Comú fines. Most parishes offer 2–4 bulk collections per year for free; additional collections may have a fee.
Green textile collection containers (contenidors de roba) at supermarket car parks and main parking areas. Creu Roja Andorrana (Red Cross) also has collection points for reusable items.
Clothing should be clean and dry. Shoes: tie together in pairs. Damaged textiles (torn, stained) still accepted — they are processed for industrial rags or insulation material.
Runa (construction rubble, tiles, concrete, soil) must be taken directly to the deixalleria. It is NOT accepted in any street recycling container.
Construction waste is separately regulated. If you are doing renovation works, ask your contractor to arrange runa disposal — they are legally responsible. Large volumes require a permit from the Comú.
Deixalleria only. Includes: paint, solvents, cleaning chemicals, pesticides, fluorescent tubes, aerosols (pressurised), car batteries.
Hazardous waste containers must be sealed and transported safely to the deixalleria. Never pour chemicals down drains or put in general waste bins.
Commercial generators (shops, offices, restaurants) must use the Comú commercial waste service or contract a private waste management company. Street containers are for household volumes only.
Self-employed and businesses: contact your parish Comú for commercial waste contract requirements. Putting excessive commercial cardboard in street containers is a Comú violation.
Bulk Waste
Large furniture, white goods (washing machines, fridges), and mattresses must be disposed of via the parish Comú collection service or directly at the deixalleria. Call your Comú to book a free bulk waste collection (servei de recollida de voluminosos). Items must not be left on public streets or in public areas without prior booking. The Comú will typically collect within 3–7 days of booking. Fridges and air conditioning units containing refrigerants must go to the deixalleria — not general collection — due to the special handling required for F-gas refrigerants.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ! Putting plastic bags full of recycling into the glass iglú — glass only goes in the iglú, bags go in yellow or general container
- ! Placing ceramics and porcelain in the glass iglú — these are not recyclable glass and contaminate the glass stream
- ! Ignoring the organic (brown) container — Andorra's organic waste separation reduces landfill volume significantly; participation is increasingly expected
- ! Leaving cardboard boxes unflattened in the blue container — flattening them allows far more cardboard to fit and reduces collection frequency
- ! Putting batteries or electronics in any street container — always take to a collection box or deixalleria
- ! Using non-compostable plastic bags in the brown organic container — use compostable bags or line with newspaper
- ! Dumping building rubble (runa) in general waste — Comú will reject this and may issue a fine
- ! Not rinsing cans and plastic containers before putting in yellow container — food contamination can cause the entire collection to be rejected as non-recyclable
Fines & Enforcement
Improper waste disposal (illegal dumping) in Andorra is subject to parish Comú fines ranging from €100 to €3,000 depending on the severity and nature of the dumping. Commercial vehicles caught dumping construction waste or commercial quantities of rubbish illegally face higher fines. Comú inspectors and cameras monitor communal waste areas. Repeated violations can result in prosecution under Andorran environmental law.
Practical Tips
- → Find your nearest deixalleria (civic amenity site) as soon as you arrive — it handles all special waste categories that street bins cannot accept
- → Each Comú has slightly different waste collection schedules and container locations — check your parish Comú website for the local guide
- → Andorra Telecom provides an "Andorra Sostenible" app section with waste sorting guides and deixalleria locations
- → The supermarkets (Pyrénées, Bon Preu) have comprehensive recycling points in their car parks covering batteries, oils, and clothing
- → The organic (brown) container is collected more frequently than general waste — using it reduces odours and pests in general bins
- → Andorra participates in SDDR (Sistema de Dipòsit, Devolució i Retorn) pilot schemes — watch for return deposits on certain beverage containers
- → When shopping duty-free in Andorra, be aware that Spanish and French customs limit the quantity of alcohol and tobacco you can bring back — this affects your recycling volume too if you buy in bulk