Curaçao (CW)
Curaçao is a Dutch Caribbean island of approximately 160,000 people situated 65km north of Venezuela, outside the Atlantic hurricane belt.
Recycling & Waste in Curaçao
Bin system, bottle deposits, special disposal, and common mistakes.
Waste management in Curaçao is handled by Selikor N.V. (government waste management company). Recycling infrastructure is significantly less developed than in the Netherlands. A basic waste separation programme exists but participation is limited. Most household waste goes to Malpais landfill. Recycling initiatives are growing, particularly for plastic, glass, and electronics. Curaçao is an island — plastic and waste that is not properly disposed of can easily reach coral reefs and the ocean.
The Bin System
General Household Waste
Green or brown (standard household bin)Restafval / Huisvuil
- ✓General household waste
- ✓Non-recyclable packaging
- ✓Food waste (in sealed bags)
- ✓Sanitary waste
- ✗Batteries and electronics
- ✗Hazardous chemicals, paint, pesticides
- ✗Medical waste and sharps
- ✗Bulk furniture and appliances
- ✗Recyclable materials (plastic bottles, paper, glass)
Recyclables
Blue or clearly labelled recycling bin (where available)Recycling / Herbruikbare Materialen
- ✓Plastic bottles and containers (clean)
- ✓Cardboard and paper
- ✓Aluminium cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (clean)
- ✗Food-contaminated packaging
- ✗Hazardous waste
- ✗Electronics
- ✗Mixed waste
Informal Bottle Return (Statiegeld) — Bottle Deposit System
Curaçao does not have a formalised deposit return system equivalent to the Netherlands. An informal bottle return exists at selected supermarkets.
Variable — no standardised deposit amount as in the Netherlands
Return clean glass bottles and PET plastic bottles to bottle return points at selected MCD and Van den Tweel supermarkets.
Special Disposal
Selikor drop-off centre (Malpais) or designated e-waste collection events
Never put electronics in general waste. Selikor organises periodic e-waste collection events — follow Selikor on Facebook/WhatsApp for announcements.
Battery collection boxes in pharmacies and some supermarkets. Also accepted at Selikor drop-off.
Never dispose of batteries in general waste — they contain toxic heavy metals. Batteries from all types of devices accepted.
Selikor hazardous waste drop-off at Malpais. Never pour down drains or dispose in general waste.
Annual hazardous waste collection events are sometimes organised — check Selikor social media for announcements.
Selikor recycling centre accepts used cooking oil. Some local collection points available.
Used cooking oil can be recycled into biodiesel. Never pour down drains — damages sewage systems and marine environment.
Return to pharmacies (boticas/apotheken) or Curaçao Medical Center (CMC). Never in general waste.
Sharps containers available at pharmacies for home use (diabetes management, etc.).
Contact Selikor for a special collection appointment.
Do not leave large items on the roadside without prior arrangement — illegal dumping. Fee: NAf 30–80 depending on items.
Scrap metal dealers in Willemstad accept metal waste for recycling.
Often paid — check current scrap metal prices. Good for old vehicles and appliances.
Bulk Waste
Contact Selikor by phone or via their website (selikor.cw) for scheduled bulk waste collection. A fee of NAf 30–80 applies depending on the volume and type of items. Illegal dumping is a finable offence.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ! Putting batteries, electronics, or chemicals in general waste — toxic and illegal
- ! Leaving bulk items on the roadside without contacting Selikor — illegal dumping
- ! Not rinsing recyclables before placing in recycling bins — contaminates the entire batch
- ! Using conventional oxybenzone sunscreen near the beach or reef — harms coral
- ! Disposing of used cooking oil down the drain — damages sewage and marine systems
Practical Tips
- → Curaçao is an island — plastic waste not properly disposed of can reach coral reefs within hours
- → Use reusable shopping bags — single-use plastic bags are not yet banned but awareness is growing
- → Reef-safe sunscreen (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) is important near beaches and dive sites
- → The Curaçao Cleanup Foundation (curacaocleanup.com) organises regular beach and reef clean-up events — excellent for meeting environmentally engaged locals
- → Selikor's WhatsApp number and Facebook page provide real-time waste collection schedule updates
- → Recycling infrastructure is improving — check Selikor's website (selikor.cw) for updated drop-off locations and schedules