Latest news and stories about waste management in government in Portugal for expats and residents.
Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas has formally requested that the government immediately cancel the Volta packaging deposit system. The program, which refunds 10 cents for returned single-use containers, has been criticized by the mayor as an environmental policy that has devolved into an unprecedented social drama for the city's residents.
The government has approved the Terra+ strategy to address the country's dwindling landfill capacity, describing it as one of the largest investment programs of the decade. While reports on the total investment amount vary between 1.6 billion and 2.3 billion euros, the plan aims to significantly reduce the volume of waste sent to landfills.
Minister of Environment and Energy Maria da Graça Carvalho has announced plans for a new waste incinerator in the Algarve, estimated to cost €300 million. Environmental group ZERO has criticized the decision, arguing it undermines the circular economy, though the minister has expressed a willingness to discuss alternatives.
The Volta system management entity has lowered its 2026 packaging collection target to 40%, sparking criticism from municipal associations over the regulatory change and a lack of transparency regarding compensation.
During a press conference from the capital, the mayor stated he had presented the French example to the Government, where he claimed the system has been suspended.
Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas has called on the government to immediately scrap Portugal’s Volta bottle and can deposit-return scheme, claiming it has created serious social and urban hygiene problems in The post Lisbon mayor calls for end of Volta recycling scheme appeared first on Portugal Resident.
A recycling and reuse policy “is necessary”, states the Social Democrat Carlos Moedas. But “it should be neither a tax nor a social drama”.
Carlos Moedas asked the Government this Tuesday to cancel the Volta packaging deposit system “immediately”, claiming that the 10-cent refund per bottle or can is turning into “a tax for those who pay” and an urban hygiene problem in cities.
The Mayor of Sintra acknowledges that there is still a small number of people who do not respect the rules and, therefore, has launched this awareness campaign.
The campaign appeals to Sintra residents not to leave large items on the street without first contacting municipal services. 167 administrative offences have already been issued since the beginning of 2026.
A direct appeal to Sintra residents not to leave bulky waste and green waste on the street without first contacting their parish council or municipal services.
Questioned by members of parliament, the Minister of Environment and Energy stated that the Waste Management Fee exemption will be extended until the end of December. The exemption was set to expire this month.
Last June, the Government had extended the exemption from paying the TGR until September 30th for waste resulting from the destruction caused in January by storm “Kristin”.
The Government will extend the Waste Management Fee (TGR) exemption until the end of the year for the area affected by the destruction caused by storm Kristin in January. The information was provided by the Minister of Environment and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho, during a hearing at the Assembly of the Republic. The minister confirmed the extension after being questioned by deputies, as the current exemption was set to expire at the end of September. The TGR is a fee charged by the State to waste management entities, which is then passed on to municipalities and subsequently to citizens through water bills.
France has decided against implementing a mandatory bottle deposit scheme, moving in the opposite direction to the policy adopted in Portugal.
An analysis of a country that reversed its decision regarding the Volta System and a question about whether Portugal will follow suit.
Environmentalists issued a negative opinion on the proposal to expand the Castelo Branco Industrial Waste Landfill, as it is a “clearly illegal” project.
The minister has stated that no new sanitary landfills will be built.
The goal is to have only 10% of waste in landfills by 2035. The Algarve, with two landfills nearly full, may move towards incineration. Study launched on October 15th.
The Minister of Environment has stated that no new sanitary landfills will be built in Portugal, focusing instead on waste reduction and recycling policies.
Maria da Graça Carvalho spoke after the Government approved the 'Terra +' strategy this Friday, in the Council of Ministers, to create solutions to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills.
The Government admits there are problems with the Volta System. However, the Environment Minister guarantees that solutions for each of these issues are being analysed and points out that this is a mandatory system throughout the European Union.
The APA presented a report on the first few months. 242.6 million packages have already been returned. The estimated performance of the system is at 38%, very close to the 39% target set for this year.
The Minister of Environment admitted today that there are problems in the implementation of the Volta System, specifically due to the disposal of packaging on public roads, assuring that the identified situations are being analysed and resolved on a case-by-case basis.
Five months after the Volta System came into effect, the government admits the deposit and refund model is facing significant growing pains, particularly due to improper disposal of containers and a rush for refunds on the streets. Addressing these weaknesses—specifically the behavior of those the DN newspaper dubbed 'trash miners'—the Minister of Environment stated that case-by-case solutions are being developed and advocated for a larger network of machines to meet targets that have already cost the country millions, as reported by the Lusa agency on Tuesday, September 1st. Minister Maria da Graça Carvalho noted that the system is complex but essential for recycling plastic bottles and cans, and that oversight is being strengthened to resolve issues, including the scavenging of waste for refunds.
The Minister of Environment states that “at the beginning there were disruptions” in all the other 17 countries where the system was implemented.
In May, the Government announced its intention to mobilise 2.3 billion euros to address waste management challenges in Portugal. A few weeks earlier, it had approved the 2030 Circular Economy Action Plan. These are two public policy initiatives that, rather than just coexisting, can mutually reinforce each other: when well managed, ...
According to the Mayor of Sintra, the collection of bulky waste, which has been on the streets for over 15 days, is the responsibility of the local Parish Council.
The Liberal Initiative (IL) councillor presented a municipal programme to the Coimbra City Council for the reform of the bulky waste collection service. Ana Abrunhosa admits that waste remains a problem.
