Latest news and stories about waste management in Portugal for expats and residents.
One month after the launch of the 'Volta' deposit and refund system, many consumers report confusion as a large portion of packaging remains incompatible with the new machines. While the managing entity claims the collection network is nearly complete, supermarkets are still navigating the transition phase for the mandatory system seals.
Portugal is launching a national deposit and refund system for beverage containers, branded as Volta, on April 10. Consumers will pay a ten-cent deposit on single-use bottles and cans, which is refundable upon returning the empty containers to one of over 2,000 collection points. During a four-month transition period, containers with and without the Volta symbol will coexist on store shelves.
Volta is a national deposit and refund system (sistema de depósito e reembolso) for beverage containers launching in Portugal on April 10. It requires consumers to pay a 10-cent deposit on single-use bottles and cans, which is refunded when the empty container is returned to a collection point.
The sector regulator says Portugal's recycling performance is 'insufficient', with median collection rates near unsatisfactory levels and poor access to recycling points. It called on municipalities to 'get their house in order', highlighting that ease of access to containers and participation must improve to meet targets. People should report badly serviced areas to their local council as municipalities face pressure to expand and improve pontos de reciclagem (recycling points).
Recycling points (ecopontos) are public drop-off sites with colour-coded containers for sorted waste like paper, glass, plastic and metal, usually run by municipalities or local waste companies. The waste regulator found access to these containers is low and recycling rates are below targets, so residents should check their municipality’s map and collection rules to use the nearest recycling point and improve local recycling rates.
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.
The Portuguese Environment Agency highlights that waste production in Portugal peaks during the summer months.
The summer season leads to an increase in waste generation across Portugal, with total figures surpassing 1.8 million tonnes.
The Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) has issued a warning regarding the significant increase in waste production during the summer season, which exceeds 1.8 million tonnes.
The Portuguese Environment Agency is intensifying its 'Let's mess up the trash' campaign during the summer, created to change recycling habits and reduce reliance on landfills.
Last year, between June and September, more than 1.8 million tonnes of urban waste were produced.
The Portuguese Environment Agency launches a national awareness campaign for recycling during the time of year when waste production increases the most in the country.
SIC Verifica examines whether France has implemented a plastic bottle deposit scheme similar to the Volta system used in Portugal.
Sintra City Council received confirmation this Friday, June 12, that the Court of Auditors has granted prior approval for the acquisition of 39 new waste collection vehicles, representing an investment of approximately 12 million euros. According to the municipality, the vehicles will be delivered in phases throughout the year to replace part of the current fleet, which includes vehicles over a decade old. This reinforcement is part of a broader investment in urban hygiene, including the replacement of 1,500 recycling bins for over 600,000 euros. The goal is to improve working conditions for staff in the country's second most populous municipality, where 560 tonnes of waste are collected daily. Marco Almeida described the court's decision as a victory, noting that the previous administration's plan to lease 69 trucks for 70.5 million euros was cancelled due to concerns over financial sustainability and potential tariff increases for residents.
Investment of 12 million euros with authorisation from the Court of Auditors.
The decision was the result of this Thursday's Council of Ministers meeting.
SDR Portugal, which manages the Deposit and Refund System known as Volta and implemented this year in Portugal, will collect up to 7% of the packaging currently handled by the Integrated Packaging Waste Management System (SIGRE), which is responsible for the collection and treatment of packaging. The figure is indicated by the Society...
There are more than 2,500 'Volta' collection points distributed across the country.
The environmental association points out that the law establishes that only waste subjected to prior treatment can be deposited in landfills, which is not guaranteed in this project.
Sociedade Ponto Verde estimates that in 2024, at least 6.2 million euros remained unpaid to the packaging management system by producers and packers whose packaging entered the country via e-commerce. This figure is expected to nearly double by 2028. Sociedade Ponto Verde is responsible for...
Águas de Gaia, which represents the municipality in the contract with Suma, highlighted the need to ensure the provision of waste collection without any interruption, as it is an essential public service.
The Portuguese Environment Agency has set November as the deadline for a decision on the license for a potential management entity for furniture and mattress waste. Circular+MC promises to join the race.
In the waste management and local government sector, several municipal councils and municipalised services have also closed or become inoperable.
At first glance, the cups are reusable. In practice, they pile up on the streets and in the homes of those who bought them. With the return of the street festivals, the paradox repeats itself: a system designed to reduce urban waste that often ends up fueling it, with profit for some. The CopoMais project promises more machines and €0.50 back.
The Volta recycling system has collected 2.3 million packages. Even so, some customers complain about a lack of information.
The Portuguese government plans to allocate 2.3 billion euros to address and mitigate the ongoing waste management crisis across the country.
Gaia City Council had mentioned that waste collection by the company Suldouro has shown some improvement, but highlighted that the results are insufficient and far from national and EU targets.
The private equity fund Moon Capital, founded by Sílvia Mota and Ana Sá Ribeiro and managed by Eaglestone Capital Partners, announced this Friday the purchase of a 20% stake in the Portuguese company Olimec, which is dedicated to the management, repair, and maintenance of equipment in the urban waste sector. Olimec, based in Maia and...
According to an environmental association, some alternative measures to the expansion of landfills include door-to-door waste collection and the application of the polluter-pays principle.
The rule for deciding whether a box goes into the blue recycling bin is simple: if the cardboard is clean or stained with grease, it can be recycled. If it is completely soaked in oil, it goes in the general waste.
Environmental association Almargem has argued that expanding landfill capacity in the Algarve is not a sustainable solution to the region’s growing waste problem and risks breaching both Portuguese and European The post Expanding Algarve landfills will not solve waste crisis – Almargem appeared first on Portugal Resident.
The e-commerce platform Temu has partnered with the non-profit organisation Electrão to ensure it meets its environmental responsibilities regarding waste management in Portugal.
The Volta System, which allows for the deposit of single-use plastic and metal bottles up to three litres in exchange for a refund, collected 400,000 units in its first month. Gonçalo Lobo Xavier, Director-General of the Portuguese Association of Distribution Companies (APED), defended the initiative against political criticism, highlighting that the results compare favourably to similar systems in countries like Austria. Since 10 April, consumers can return eligible containers to over 2,500 machines and 8,000 manual collection points nationwide to receive a 10-cent refund per item.
