Latest news and stories about waste management in environment in Lisboa, Portugal for expats and residents.
Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas is urging the Portuguese government to abandon the 'Volta' recycling deposit system, citing social issues and urban waste problems, while the government maintains the system is a necessary European obligation.
Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas has urged the Portuguese government to immediately terminate the Volta packaging deposit system, citing it as a source of significant social distress despite its environmental intentions.
The national deposit and return system for beverage containers, launched in April of this year, has been the target of criticism from the Lisbon mayor.
SDR Portugal says it may finance costs attributable to Volta packaging. Lisbon, which demands the end of the deposit and refund system, remains without the six planned kiosks.
The proposal to recognise the 'public interest' of the Abrunheira landfill, which serves the municipalities of Mafra, Cascais, Sintra, and Oeiras, was rejected by the Mafra Municipal Assembly. The four mayors must now find short-term solutions for solid waste management, as the current site is at 91% capacity and expected to close by 2027. While the project had received positive opinions from regional development and agricultural commissions, local opposition in Mafra has halted the expansion, which aimed to increase capacity by one million tonnes by 2030.
The mayors of the AML, meeting in the Metropolitan Council, unanimously condemned the “harmful” social and environmental effects of the packaging deposit system.
The municipalities of the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (AML) unanimously contested the Volta packaging system today, arguing that it is not working and has harmful social and environmental effects, while advocating for an urgent review.
The 'public interest' recognition for the Abrunheira landfill, which serves the municipalities of Mafra, Cascais, Sintra, and Oeiras, faces a potential veto by the Mafra Municipal Assembly. PSD councillors have formally opposed the measure, arguing it harms local residents, while accusing the executive led by Hugo Luís of bypassing municipal oversight. If rejected, the landfill—which is nearing capacity—will close in 2027, forcing the four municipalities to find alternative waste disposal solutions that could cost up to 40 million euros annually. Tratolixo had requested the extension to increase capacity by 1 million tonnes, but concerns regarding air quality, odour control, and increased heavy traffic on the National 9 road have fuelled local opposition.
The mobilizing power of simple mathematics that promises 10 cents for every object returned.
Susana Fonseca, from Zero, admits to flaws in the launch of Volta, but defends the deposit system as effective and says that the hygiene problems in Lisbon are not new.
Carlos Moedas wants to end Volta, but the Government rejects the idea. Leonor Riso explains what is at stake and what other deposit and refund systems in Europe show.
Waste chaos leads the Mayor of Lisbon to call for the end of the system. The Minister says it is a European obligation.
Moedas suggests that Portugal should emulate France's approach to recycling, but notes that this would require recycling bins to collect over 80% of packaging.
Faced with the possibility of ending the deposit and refund system known as Volta, the Minister of Environment and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho, is categorical: “No, it is not under consideration. It is mandatory at a European level.” The minister considers the process “successful” and argues that behind the “social dramas” that...
The Minister of Environment admits adjustments, but guarantees that the Volta system will continue. The Mayor of Lisbon advocates for the immediate end of this packaging deposit system.
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.
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 managing entity of the Deposit and Refund System (SDR), which operates under the Volta brand, is strengthening its network for collecting packaging outside of supermarkets. Almost five months after the launch, six Volta kiosks are already in operation, and agreements are in place with six other municipalities for the implementation of these structures, which...
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.
In Camarate, in the municipality of Loures, trash is piling up in the streets. This has been dragging on for months. Residents of the Angola neighbourhood are asking for help to resolve this public health issue.
The bags were found sealed next to a rubbish bin.
They put money inside the recycling bins and spontaneous order did the rest...
Residents in Lisbon want mini-containers next to recycling islands, similar to those in Germany and Denmark, to prevent people from rummaging through trash in search of packaging.
The ten-cent refund per can or bottle is working, but it has created a new hunt for trash. Martim Andrade explains the risks, conflicts, and stories he found on the streets of Lisbon.
Alberto Gonçalves comments on the side effects of the plastic bottle refund scheme, in particular the increase in litter on the streets
The Deposit and Refund System aimed to promote the reduction of litter in public spaces. However, it reportedly had the opposite effect, and local authorities are complaining about the increase in waste scattered on the ground.
The recycling incentive scheme offering a ten-cent refund per unit has had an unexpected effect on urban hygiene. “There are people from various social strata” rummaging through the trash, says a parish council president.
