Fury in Majorca over mountains of rubbish in the streets – ‘it’s a health hazard’

One of Spain’s most exclusive holiday hotspots has been slapped with a miserable new recycling scheme, leaving streets buried under mountains of rotting rubbish. The idyllic municipality of Andratx in Majorca, famed for attracting the rich and famous, is facing a mounting crisis, with angry locals demanding immediate action over what they fear has become a major health hazard.

In a bid to boost recycling rates, the Andratx council introduced a strict new door-to-door collection system, removing traditional roadside bins and replacing them with a schedule in which different types of waste are collected on different days. However, furious residents have said the rollout has failed spectacularly, turning the scenic paradise into an eyesore. Locals have claimed the new system is completely impractical for everyday life, with one resident slamming the council’s replacement bins as useless.

“They removed all the roadside bins and replaced them with a small white bin to collect different things on different days,” one exasperated local told the Majorca Daily Bulletin. “The bin is too small for most households and involves separating almost all items. It’s a full-time job for busy families and the elderly.”

Under the new rules, if a household has excess waste, they are expected to leave it beside their small designated bin. However, many are refusing to do so, instead dumping their waste at the few remaining large communal bin sites.

As a result, these scarce collection points have been completely overwhelmed by overflowing trash.

“It is not working and it is a health hazard,” the resident warned.

Alarmingly, Andratx is not the only area suffering from the refuse chaos. Similar rubbish crises have reportedly flared up across other parts of the Balearic Island whenever local councils have attempted to introduce the same door-to-door system.

Despite its reputation as a luxury playground for wealthy expats and A-list celebrities, residents have said the reality on the ground is far from glamorous.

“We may be the home of the rich and famous, but at the moment it is all a load of rubbish,” another resident said. “We want the council to take action and return to the old system of bigger bins by the roadside.”

Andratx lies on the southwestern tip of Majorca, nestled in the foothills of the Serra de Tramuntana. It boasts narrow, rambling streets, traditional farmland, and historic landmarks such as the Iglesia de Santa Maria. The waterfront of the sophisticated natural harbour of Port d’Andratx, home to both quaint fishing boats and luxury yachts, is also lined with high-end boutiques, galleries and acclaimed restaurants.