Mijas police step up rubbish patrols as residents complain about dumped waste

Local Police in Mijas are stepping up checks against people leaving rubbish, furniture and building waste in all the wrong places after a growing number of complaints from residents about dirty streets and areas around bins.

Police will be cracking down more than ever and will focus on places where illegal dumping is repeatedly reported, with officers checking for rubbish bags left outside containers, abandoned mattresses and furniture, as well as rubble and other waste dumped on roads, paths, empty plots and public spaces.

Mijas cracks down on illegal rubbish dumping

Anyone caught abandoning waste could be identified, reported and fined under current regulations. Spanish waste law treats the uncontrolled dumping of waste as a serious offence, with penalties depending on the nature and seriousness of the breach. With recent wildfires breaking out in places close to Cerrado de Aguila, and el Faro, where nearby building work has been taking place, local police say the situation is becoming dangerous.

Local Police councillor Juan Carlos Cuevas said most people in Mijas follow the rules and want to live in clean neighbourhoods but argued that residents and construction firms who dispose of their rubbish properly should not have to put up with the behaviour of a small minority.

Previous police action has already focused on similar problems. In February, Mijas Local Police reported 38 proposed sanctions in one month relating to dumped rubble, furniture and household items, as well as rubbish left outside permitted times or in unauthorised locations.

What to do with old furniture in Mijas

Residents getting rid of a sofa, mattress, appliance or other bulky item should not simply leave it beside a container. Collection arrangements must be made through the council waste service before putting items out, with residents following the instructions given for collection.

Mijas also has a Punto Limpio in La Cala de Mijas for authorised waste, while management of the facility changed to the Costa del Sol municipal association’s new system in June 2026.

Building rubble, garden waste and other specialist materials should not be put into ordinary household rubbish containers or abandoned on rural roads and vacant plots.