According to the Portuguese Environment Agency, ‘The Strategic Plan for Urban Waste (PERSU 2030) aims to give continuity to the application of the national waste policy, guiding the agents involved in the implementation of actions that allow the country to be aligned with Community policies and guidelines, contributing to the increase in prevention, recycling and other forms of recovery of urban waste, with the consequent reduction in the consumption of natural raw materials with limited resources.

This plan focuses on the prevention of waste production and selective collection, with particular attention to the new fractions: textile waste, hazardous waste and bio-waste, while also emphasising the promotion of the use of materials derived from waste (fuel derived from waste, compost, recovered recyclables, biogas and ash/bottom ashes).’

DEMANDING ENVIRONMENTAL TARGETS

The European Environmental Targets to which Portugal is subject for the years 2030 and 2035 are very demanding, with the Recycling Target implying reaching 60 per cent and 65 per cent of all existing municipal waste for the years 2030 and 2035, respectively, and the Landfill Target in 2035 not exceeding 10 per cent of all treated municipal waste, which naturally imposes a profound change in the habits of the Portuguese population.

In 2021, 56 per cent of waste in Portugal was landfilled and the recycling target was 32 per cent, and this is the starting point at national level

MORE CONSCIOUS AND SUSTAINABLE HABITS

Recycling materials is a necessity for a sustainable world and the figures show that the Portuguese are already aware of this fact. Proof of this is that we have all identified recycling as one of the practices that we can easily adopt in our daily lives and that will have a major impact on the planet's sustainable future, both in terms of the resources - virgin materials - that are saved by incorporating recycled materials into products, and in terms of the environmental impacts generated by the treatment of urban waste. This environmental awareness, already rooted in Portuguese society, is in itself a very positive fact.

In any case, it will be necessary to create routines and new habits in every Portuguese family, starting with the reduction and reuse of resources, putting aside the role of waste producer and taking on the role of resource manager.

Once we get into the habit of separating bio-waste (or food and garden waste), which represents the largest amount of our waste, we will need to have a fifth container in our homes for the rest, because the main container will now be for bio-waste.

In view of the above, Valorsul would like citizens living in its area of intervention (Greater Lisbon - North and West Regions) to take part in drawing up the Action Plan for Municipal Waste. To this end, please answer a short questionnaire below, in which you can participate anonymously.

Get to know the municipalities in Valorsul's area of intervention here.