Valorsul is promoting the “Open Doors” initiative on March 23rd, with the goal of bringing local communities closer together, allowing citizens to learn about the processes related to the collection and valorization of urban waste and raising awareness about good environmental practices and recycling. On this day, the facilities open for visitation were the Energy Recovery Plant; the Organic Treatment and Recovery Station; the Sorting Center and Ecocenter in Lisbon; the West Sorting Center and West Sanitary Landfill.

The replacement of the fleet of light vehicles with 100% electric vehicles has begun, reinforcing the commitment to environmental protection and preventing the emission of 90 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent into the atmosphere.

In partnership with the consulting firm Innovation by Kaizen, Valorsul is launching the “Open Innovation 2024” program and call for proposals, aimed at academia, start-ups, and companies in the sector. The goal is to promote an accelerator of cutting-edge projects and technologies to transform Valorsul's business and boost the waste management sector in Portugal. In this first edition, Valorsul intends to invest R$ 150,000 in the most innovative solutions.

Valorsul is distinguished with the “INNOVATOR COTEC 2024” award for its commitment to innovation and sustainability in the solid waste sector.

A new partnership is established with Quercus, within the scope of the Green Cork project, with the aim of promoting the recycling of cork stoppers in the municipalities within Valorsul's area of ​​operation. Valorsul is awarded the APCE 2024 Grand Prize in the Sustainability & ESG category for the campaign “Give more to the world. Practice yours! Recycle!”, developed for the World Youth Day (WYD) Lisbon 2023.
The “REUSE MAP” platform is launched, which maps and disseminates all activities related to the reuse of materials and the fight against food waste, to promote the reuse and circularity of materials, encouraging prevention, reduction and reuse in the 19 municipalities in the company's area of ​​operation.
On September 16th, Valorsul celebrates its 30th anniversary through the implementation of several initiatives, namely the project “30 years, 30 stories” which listened to and preserved memories, achievements and remarkable stories of our company throughout its 30 years of existence.

Selective Collection, by Valorsul, is extended to the entire municipality of Amadora and to some parishes of Loures and Odivelas, with reinforced containerization and proven results in bringing the population closer and satisfying them, as well as increasing the amount of recyclable material.

Also noteworthy is the adaptation of the Cadaval Ecopark to receive bio-waste, ensuring better management of this waste stream, and with a new expansion planned from 2024 onwards.

The CTRO, in Cadaval, will now have a transfer station to receive unsorted waste from the municipalities of the West, in order to minimize access by municipal vehicles to the landfill (ASO).

In July, Valorsul launched the institutional campaign ‘A good deed changes the world. Practice yours! Recycle!’, within the scope of WYD Lisbon 2023, with the aim of raising awareness among pilgrims about reducing, reusing and recycling waste during the world meeting. The campaign features Valorsul employees, who perform good deeds every day, whether in the collection, separation, or valorization of the waste that arrives daily at the facilities, and who will assume an even more fundamental role during World Youth Day week, due to the expected increase in packaging and waste production during this period.

The sharing of the Mechanical and Biological Treatment facility for the organic valorization of undifferentiated waste between Valorsul and Valorlis is coming to an end. This change, effective from September 2023, results from the alteration of the Single Environmental Title (TUA) of the Valorlis Unit (Landfill, TMB, and Ecocenter).

Innovation takes on a relevant role in 2023, with a pilot test at ETVO, using equipment for separating contaminants from bio-waste, with the potential to replace the current pre-treatment line.

The application of the kLEAN methodology is extended to the entire company, generating efficiency gains.

The introduction of artificial intelligence in operational processes, selective collection, and logistics through innovative projects already underway was also highlighted.

This year is marked by the end of the epidemiological situation caused by SARS-CoV-2 and the arrival of new macroeconomic challenges on a global scale, intensified by the war resulting from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with effects on all sectors of national and international activity, including Valorsul.
The maintenance shutdown of the Energy Recovery Plant (CVE) will last 2 months, 4 weeks longer than planned, due to an anomaly in the turbine that requires the extension of the works.
Important activities are being implemented: expansion of selective collection activity by Valorsul in Amadora, digitization of the Energy Recovery Plant, inauguration of a new Transfer Station and an Eco-center in the Municipality of Torres Vedras, and the expansion of the LEAN methodology, with efficiency gains, improvement projects and resource circularity.
The implementation of Artificial Intelligence in our Operation, Selective Collection and Logistics and Structure processes has begun.
The year also brought innovations in the relationship with citizens, such as the "Contentão" project and the NUDGE Study, which applied behavioral science strategies to influence changes in habits, and the implementation of the Recycling Line.
The "ALL THE R's - Conversations between municipalities about waste and circularity" cycle was launched, consisting of a series of technical meetings dedicated to topics relevant to the waste sector and involving various areas of the company.

In the Lisbon area, the year is marked by the start of the "Contentão, a container with a big heart" Project, an innovative selective collection and awareness project, developed in partnership with SIMAR of Loures and Odivelas. The objective is to involve local communities to contribute to an association in their parish, through the separation of waste for recycling and disposal in the Contentão assigned to the association.
The Amadora City Council distinguished Valorsul with the "Amadora Solidarity Company Seal 2020" for its involvement in various Social Responsibility projects and actions in its area of ​​operation.

2020 is marked by significant constraints related to the COVID-19 pandemic, which particularly affect the waste sector. In response, extraordinary measures are implemented with the aim of ensuring prevention and epidemiological control, in line with the sectors most at risk of contagion and ensuring public health.
The Energy Recovery Plant celebrates its 20th anniversary.
The new line at the Sorting Centre in Lisbon and the new Green Composting facility in Amadora are inaugurated. Given the impossibility of conducting an in-person visit due to the pandemic, presentation videos are prepared and sent by email to the main stakeholders, with the aim of showcasing the new facilities and providing some technical data about them.
The kLEAN Project is integrated into the SGI.

In the last two months of the year, the Lumiar Sorting Centre underwent significant upgrades in terms of equipment and processing capacity: seven optical separators and more than 100 pieces of equipment, including conveyors, bag openers, ballistic separators, magnetic separators and eddy current separators, allow for maximum use of all the material that arrives at this sorting line. [Video]
Overall growth in selective waste collection increased by 10% compared to the previous year.
At ETVO, both motor generators malfunctioned, resulting in a drop in energy production.
Valorsul is recognised for the excellence of its service as a waste management entity, winning the ‘Urban Waste Management Service Quality Awards’ from ERSAR for the first time at the National Waste Forum.
As part of the ‘Let's Clean Up Europe’ movement, Valorsul carries out various actions aimed at raising public awareness of environmental issues, with a special focus on waste abandoned in natural areas and the importance of cleaning up these sites.
On 16 September, Valorsul celebrates its 25th anniversary.

In 2018, from an operational point of view, the company was particularly affected by the scheduled shutdown of CTRSU, considered one of the largest in the unit's history, with extensive interventions on several fronts, and of ETVO, which included the opening of the second and final digester.
Valorsul is awarded the ‘Seal of Quality in Urban Waste Management’ by ERSAR.
The Recycle BinGo game wins gold in the ‘best application’ category of the 2018 edition of the Meios & Publicidade Awards and an award in the Services category at the 2018 SAPO Creativity Awards.

At the Organic Treatment and Recovery Plant (ETVO), the first opening of a digester for cleaning and maintenance was carried out, which led to a temporary reduction of approximately half of the energy production during the estimated period of 3 to 4 months. Despite this situation, the improvement in operating conditions after this intervention mitigated its impact, with October being the best month to date in terms of energy production.
Although the scheduled shutdown of the CTRSU was longer than the previous year, resulting in a longer period of unavailability, the energy exported exceeded expectations, reaching values very close to those of 2016.
Valorsul, with the support of the Ministry of the Environment's Environmental Fund and in partnership with Amarsul and Valorlis, has developed the Recycle BinGo mobile app, which encourages citizens to separate and deposit packaging in recycling bins.
The company is awarded the “Empresa Solidária Amadora 2016” prize, given by the Amadora City Council to companies that stood out in the previous year in the area of Social Responsibility.
In 2017, Valorsul's new institutional website is launched, under the guidance of EGF, with the aim of standardising the group's image.

This year has seen a significant increase in energy exports, mainly due to the increase in the amount of waste received at the CTRSU and the commissioning of two motor generators at the ASO, which has had a significant impact on energy production and exports.
The ETVO (Organic Treatment and Recovery Plant) processed 40,600 tonnes of waste, the largest amount since the unit started operating.
The water consumption optimisation system came into operation at the CTRSU, enabling a substantial reduction in municipal water consumption.
Valorsul is distinguished as a Trusted Brand by the Portuguese in 2016, in the Environment category.

The year 2015 marks the completion of the privatisation of EGF, which holds 55.08% of Valorsul, with its integration into the Mota-Engil group.
Under Article 9 of Decree-Law No. 96/2014 of 25 June, the Portuguese State and Valorsul signed an agreement on 30 September 2015 to reconfigure the concession contract for the operation and management, as a public service, of the multi-municipal system for the treatment and selective collection of urban waste in the Lisbon and Oeste regions.

Valorsul celebrates its 20th anniversary on 16 September, a milestone in the company's history that has been marked by various initiatives and the publication of a book celebrating the company's history.
The year is marked by the longest scheduled shutdown of the Urban Solid Waste Plant since Valorsul began operations, with interventions in various pieces of equipment, and by a turbine failure that directly affected the levels of electricity exported to the grid.
As part of the publication of PERSU 2020, Valorsul begins internal planning work, assessing investment needs and estimated costs to respond to the challenge.
It is also the year in which the privatisation process of EGF, Valorsul's majority shareholder, takes place, giving the company visibility in the media.

In 2013, the high levels of resilience and the measured levels of ambition, resulting from various financial and human resource constraints, which translated into less medium- to long-term investment, remain.
In January, the maintenance of the certification by Bureau Veritas Certification of the Integrated Management System, according to the Environment, Safety and Quality standards, at the facilities in the Lisbon area, is confirmed.
At the energy recovery plant, another record is broken, with the recovery of more than 633,000 tons of unsorted municipal waste, an increase of 19% compared to 2012, and an availability of the incinerator's production systems of 95%.
Another record emerges this year, with the sending for recycling, after processing the selectively collected yellow recycling bin packaging, of a quantity exceeding 11,000 tons of plastic, metal and composite packaging.
Valorsul, in partnership with ISWA, organizes the first Media & Waste Management seminar, an important international event held in Lisbon, which brings together Portuguese journalists, environmental journalists, and representatives of organizations to discuss communication issues and find the best way to work together.
The construction of local works resulting from Valorsul's social commitment continues, most notably the Parque Mônica in Amadora, with approximately 4,000 square meters, on the site where the Amadora International Comic Book Festival was held for several years. This park was built using various recycled materials, some of which resulted from the dismantling of existing structures on the site.
In 2013, Valorsul took over the coordination of the European Week for Waste Reduction in its area of ​​intervention, developed the Ecojournalists: Mission 3R initiative, the Valorsul Printer-Free Day, and published the guide "How to Implement a Waste Management Plan".

In 2012, the company faced two significant challenges: the continuing trend of reduced waste intake, representing a further overall decrease of 5.5%, and an accident at the energy recovery plant, which resulted in the temporary unavailability of two of the facility's three lines.
Given the economic recession that Portugal has been experiencing since 2010, this is also a year of adaptation and reformulation of investments, with Valorsul maintaining its resilience and ambition levels in providing a high-quality public service.
The Ecovalor programme and environmental education initiatives are standardised and applied throughout the area of intervention, and the ‘Less Waste, More Future’ programme is launched, a free consulting service for organisations that aims to help companies move forward with good waste management practices, with the support of the Social Security Institute.

2011 begins with the confirmation of the maintenance of the certification, by SGS ICS, of the Integrated Management System, according to the Environment, Safety and Quality standards, at the facilities in the Lisbon North area.
The CE Marking is applied to the artificial aggregate from municipal waste incineration slag for road construction, namely for unbound base and sub-base layers of road pavements, and SGS ICS issues the certificate of conformity of the Factory Production Control (System 2+), according to the EN 13242:2002+A1:2007 standard, for the AEIRU Aggregate.
The Management Report for 2010 is published, which includes the Governance and Sustainability components.
The biogas energy recovery systems, produced at the Mato da Cruz and Cadaval landfills, begin operating. The total investment in the two pieces of equipment is 2.8 million euros and results in an annual energy production of approximately 22 GWh.
The more than 619,000 tons of municipal waste recovered for energy production and the 320.7 GWh of electricity exported to the grid contribute to 2011 being the best year of performance in terms of energy recovery to date.

The commissioning, in December, of the automatic opening and separation line for plastic film at ETVO makes it possible to eliminate the manual sorting operation. This aspect contributed not only to the improvement of working conditions and process efficiency.

The year 2010 was marked by renewal, with the merger of Valorsul and Resioeste into a single company. Following the approval of Decree-Law No. 68/2010 of 15 June, a new Valorsul was born on 20 July 2010.
This new Valorsul now holds the concession for the operation of sorting, selective collection, recovery and treatment systems for solid urban waste in the Lisbon and Oeste regions, integrating the municipalities of Alcobaça, Alenquer, Amadora, Arruda dos Vinhos, Azambuja, Bombarral, Cadaval, Caldas da Rainha, Lisbon, Loures, Lourinhã, Nazaré, Óbidos, Odivelas, Peniche, Rio Maior, Sobral de Monte Agraço, Torres Vedras and Vila Franca de Xira.
As part of the merger of the two companies, several initiatives are being developed with employees, partners and entities linked to Valorsul, namely the first activity that brought together employees from both companies.
During European Waste Prevention Week, Valorsul's Prevention Plan is announced and other activities are developed, notably the initiative dedicated to encouraging the use of reusable nappies, which involves all maternity wards in the area of intervention and supports babies born during this week.
Open door initiatives and participation in the Limpar Portugal (Clean Portugal) and Plantar Portugal (Plant Portugal) initiatives continue to be promoted.

This year is marked by initiatives, partnerships, and commitments.
Among the events, the highlight is the World Congress of the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA), held in Lisbon at the Belém Cultural Center, of which Valorsul is the main sponsor.

2009 is a year of certification for many Valorsul employees as International Waste Managers, a recognition issued by ISWA, and strong participation in communication actions.

Several works carried out by Valorsul within the scope of the social commitments assumed with the municipalities are opened and inaugurated, with special emphasis on the recovery of the Casal Ventoso slope, the afforestation of large areas, and local works.

Communication activities mark the year, with the granting of donations within the scope of the campaign to support the Laço Association (carried out in partnership with Sociedade Ponto Verde), the Think Yellow campaign event and respective granting of donations, the promotion of the Waste in Motion Roadshow (in partnership with EGF) and the delivery of the Valorsul Award at the Journalists' Club, in a ceremony broadcast live on the internet.

Valorsul subscribes to the Code of Conduct for Companies and HIV (developed within the scope of the Labor Platform against AIDS) and the Code of Conduct and Ethics of the Águas de Portugal Group. The Risk Management Plan for Corruption and Related Offenses and its Communication Policy are approved.

In 2009, Valorsul participates, for the first time, in the Junior Achievement volunteer program Learning to Be an Entrepreneur.
At Resioeste, the number of collection points to support selective waste collection is being increased, and work is beginning on automating the sorting line, with a capacity of 4 tons per hour of packaging.
On December 29th, Valorsul will have its Integrated Management System certified, according to the NP EN ISO 9001 (Quality Management Systems), NP EN ISO 14001 (Environmental Management Systems), and OHSAS 18001 (Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems) standards, for all company activities.

The Organic Waste Treatment and Recovery Station (ETVO) was officially inaugurated on March 13th by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Humberto Rosa.

The ETVO Monitoring Committee, composed of representatives from various entities (Amadora City Council, Amadora Municipal Assembly, Mina de Água Parish Council, Mina de Água Parish Assembly, Instituto Superior Técnico and several Valorsul Directorates), became more active and met regularly. The various members of this Committee had access to the most up-to-date information on the performance of the facility, management of contacts and complaints, communication with the community and scheduled or completed initiatives.

SGS ICS recertifies Valorsul's Environmental Management System (NP EN ISO 14001) and Safety Management System (OHSAS 18001), integrating the activities of waste sorting, selective waste disposal and transfer, and organic waste recovery, in addition to the previously covered activities of energy treatment and recovery, waste disposal in landfills, and slag treatment and recovery.
In February 2008, Valorsul officially inaugurates the new packaging sorting line at the Sorting Center and Ecocenter, which increases capacity from 1.8 to 4.5 tons per hour.
On June 3, the Combustible Natural Gas (CNG) Refueling Station is inaugurated by the Minister of Environment, Spatial Planning and Regional Development, Francisco Nunes Correia, located next to the CTRSU in S. João da Talha, and several heavy waste collection vehicles are delivered to the municipalities.
At the Western Solid Waste Treatment Center (CTRO) of Resioeste, the “Quintal do Raposinho” is inaugurated, an Educational Center to provide citizens with the necessary knowledge so that with the compost produced they can improve the characteristics of their soils, reducing the amount of synthetic fertilizers and water used, in the production of small vegetable gardens and gardens, thus being beneficial for plants and the environment. This will be open to awareness programs aimed at families and schools that, with prior booking, can participate and learn the techniques that make up the practice of composting.
Also at the CTRO, the Resioeste Ecopark comes into operation and the Sobral de Monte Agraço Transfer Station is redesigned.

The Environmental Management System (NP EN ISO 14001) and Safety Management System (OHSAS 18001), which now includes landfill waste disposal and slag treatment and recovery activities, in addition to treatment and energy recovery, has been awarded a certificate of compliance by SGS ICS.
A partnership agreement is signed with AMB3E – Portuguese Waste Management Association – for the reception of waste electrical and electronic equipment at the Sorting Centre.
The São João da Talha Ecopark is inaugurated, an ecological park that promoted the use of recycled materials in its construction, as well as the Santa Iria de Azóia Swimming Pools, benefiting the populations living in the vicinity of the CTRSU, and several heavy vehicles powered by natural gas are delivered to the municipalities for waste collection.
The Water and Waste Regulatory Institute and the Água & Ambiente newspaper awarded Valorsul the newly created ‘Water and Waste Service Quality Award’ for ‘Quality of urban solid waste management service provided to users’.
In the field of communication, the Pense Amarelo (Think Yellow) campaign stands out. This is a wide-ranging environmental and social responsibility initiative that aims to replace the bottle cap campaign by encouraging citizens to place plastic bottles with caps in the yellow recycling bin.
The pilot project for door-to-door selective collection in Resioeste is launched, in partnership with the Municipality of Óbidos, in the form of bags and ecological islands.

Valorsul is among the ten finalists in the 1st edition of the Citizenship Award for Companies and Organisations 2005/2006, established in partnership between AESE - School of Management and Business and PricewaterhouseCoopers. With the aim of distinguishing Good Practices in this area, these two entities selected the ten best companies and the five best NGOs.
Valorsul receives an institutional visit from the Secretary of State for the Environment, Humberto Rosa, to the CTRSU and ETVO facilities and hosts the Sociedade Ponto Verde event dedicated to presenting the results of compliance with the 2005 selective collection targets.
The ETVO Monitoring Committee is created, a specialised committee with the aim of meeting regularly to inform the population about the operation of Valorsul's Organic Treatment and Recovery Plant, located in S. Brás, Amadora.
A technical meeting is held in Madeira between Valorsul, Lipor and Valor Ambiente, allowing the sharing of experiences and knowledge between technicians from the three companies. This exchange later results in the creation of a joint association with the aim of strengthening the promotion of sustainability in waste management, namely energy recovery, in Portugal - AVALER.
The “Recycling Code” campaign visits shopping centres in Valorsul’s area of operation, increasing proximity to the population and the effectiveness of environmental communication.

The + Valor Programme is launched, a pioneering project in Portugal for the selective collection of organic matter from large producers, led by Valorsul in partnership with the municipalities of Amadora, Lisbon and Loures. This programme allows the ETVO testing phase to begin.
The Valorsul Award is presented for the first time at a successful ceremony, while the Ecovalor Programme, dedicated to the school community, gains increasing relevance in environmental education developed in the municipalities.
Valorsul's first Sustainability Report, for the year 2004, is published. This report has been prepared in accordance with the guidelines of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI).
Valorsul receives Certificates of Conformity for its Environmental Management System (NP EN ISO 14001) and Safety System (OHSAS 18001), issued by SGS ICS, for its waste treatment and energy recovery activities.
The Cohesion Fund approves a joint application by Resioeste and Valorlis for the construction of an Organic Waste Recovery Unit.

Valorsul celebrates its 10th anniversary and, in this milestone year, special attention is given to the company's internal and external communication.
The Valorsul Award is launched, with the High Patronage of the President of the Republic, Jorge Sampaio, an award that distinguishes journalists, environmental communication campaigns and innovative products and services.
In 2004, Valorsul carries out one of its largest communication campaigns dedicated to recycling, the ‘Everything has Value’ Programme, developed in partnership with local authorities.
Construction work on the Organic Treatment and Recovery Plant (ETVO) continues, representing one of the company's main challenges at this stage.

Continuing its growth, Valorsul inaugurated the Lumiar Ecocentre in 2003, allowing various types of recoverable waste, especially larger items and larger quantities, to be deposited free of charge at its facilities.
The sealed and recovered dumps and landfills in the Valorsul area are returned to their respective municipalities for their intended use.
A protocol is signed enabling the reception of unsorted urban waste from the municipalities of Cascais, Mafra, Oeiras and Sintra.
Of particular note in 2003 is the award granted by the Order of Engineers, which recognises the energy recovery plant as one of the 100 Best Civil Engineering Works of the 20th Century in Portugal.
The pace of environmental education campaigns and initiatives increases and involves more and more citizens, with the expansion of the Ecovalor programme, the holding of the ‘Sustainable Waste Management’ seminar, in partnership with Lipor, and the launch of Valorsul's first internet portal.
In Resioeste, the construction of the Environmental Training Centre building is completed, as well as the paving of the service roads to the Oeste Landfill (ASO).

This year was marked by the inauguration, on 14 February, by the Minister for the Environment and Spatial Planning, José Sócrates, of the largest packaging sorting centre in the country, a milestone that gave a significant boost to recycling in Portugal.
Valorsul launches the Ecovalor Programme, a co-financing programme for municipalities, focusing exclusively on the school community, reinforcing the company's commitment to environmental education.
In November, Valorsul receives an official visit from the Minister for Cities, Spatial Planning and the Environment, Isaltino Morais, to the Organic Treatment and Recovery Plant construction site.

One year after the inauguration of the Urban Solid Waste Treatment Plant (CTRSU), Valorsul has established itself as a national benchmark and promotes seminars, campaigns and initiatives to disseminate good practices and promote good environmental behaviour.
This year, the contract for the design, construction and supply of the Organic Treatment and Recovery Station (ETVO) is signed.
On 5 May, the Valorsul Culture and Sports Club (CCDV) is formally created with the aim of promoting and developing various cultural and sporting activities for employees and their families, in order to provide opportunities for leisure and socialising. This club has its own governing bodies and its members are current and former Valorsul employees.
The Minister for the Environment and Spatial Planning, José Sócrates, inaugurates the Oeste Waste Treatment Centre (CTRO) at Resioeste, which includes a landfill site and a sorting centre. The Environmental Education Centre project is also awarded and the Alenquer, Óbidos and Rio Maior Transfer Stations are completed.

On 14 February, the Minister for the Environment and Spatial Planning, José Sócrates, officially inaugurated the Urban Solid Waste Treatment Plant (CTRSU) and the Slag Treatment and Recovery Facility (ITVE), located in Mato da Cruz.
The Santa Iria de Azóia Urban Park (Loures), the result of the sealing and recovery of the former landfill site, in a project financed by Valorsul, which gave rise to 24 hectares of green and leisure area, is made available for the enjoyment of the population.
Although there is still no Sorting Centre, Valorsul ensures the multi-material separation of waste from selective collections at Amarsul's sorting facilities.
Several institutional visits are organised to European composting and anaerobic digestion units, attended by representatives of institutions and organisations located in the vicinity of Amadora's future Organic Treatment and Recovery Station (ETVO).
The year 2000 was also marked by the official visit of the President of the Republic, Jorge Sampaio, to Valorsul's facilities and by the company's adherence to the Ponto Verde system.
Resioeste's Oeste Landfill (ASO) project is approved by the Water and Waste Regulatory Institute (IRAR) and the Regional Directorate for the Environment and Spatial Planning (DRAOT-LVT).

The Urban Solid Waste Treatment Plant (CTRSU) enters the testing phase and begins to receive unsorted urban waste from the Valorsul intervention area. The provisional reception of the facility is celebrated on 15 December.
With this milestone, the Mato da Cruz Landfill will now take on a complementary role, receiving only waste that cannot be recovered for energy and serving as a backup for the S. João da Talha plant during maintenance periods and scheduled shutdowns.
This launch marks the effective start of energy recovery from municipal waste in the Lisbon region, representing a decisive step in the implementation of the integrated and sustainable management model adopted by Valorsul.

The Mato da Cruz Landfill will begin operating in July, receiving approximately 2,000 tonnes of urban waste produced daily in the Valorsul intervention area. This operational unit ensures a safe and controlled disposal solution, an essential activity in a year when Lisbon is hosting Expo '98, with the theme ‘Oceans: A Heritage for the Future’.
In 1998, environmental monitoring programmes began in the vicinity of the Urban Solid Waste Treatment Plant (CTRSU). These programmes, conducted by independent entities, ensure the assessment and monitoring of the environmental impact of the plant's operations.
The Minister for the Environment, Elisa Ferreira, visits the construction site of the energy recovery plant, the first urban waste incineration facility in Portugal.
Technical training begins for the first group of workers who will operate the facility, with practical training at a similar plant in the United States of America.
At Resioeste, the concession contract between the Portuguese state and the company is formalised, and waste delivery and reception contracts are also established with the 14 municipalities served by this entity.

In 1997, with the construction of the Urban Solid Waste Treatment Plant (CTRSU) progressing well, Valorsul was awarded the contract for the construction of the Mato da Cruz Sanitary Landfill (ASMC) in Vila Franca de Xira. This new infrastructure would be responsible for receiving all urban waste produced in Valorsul's area of ​​operation from 1998 until the CTRSU became operational.

In that same year, the final protocol for the Integrated Urban Solid Waste Recovery System of Greater Lisbon (North) was signed, in which Valorsul committed to putting into operation a series of essential facilities: a sanitary landfill, an energy recovery plant, a waste sorting plant, an organic recovery plant, as well as the sealing and landscape restoration of the Sta. Iria de Azóia (Loures) and Vale do Forno (Lisbon) landfills.
On December 20th, Resioeste – Valorização e Tratamento de Resíduos Sólidos, SA was created, a public limited company composed of Empresa Geral do Fomento (EGF) and 14 municipalities in the Oeste region: Alcobaça, Alenquer, Arruda dos Vinhos, Azambuja, Bombarral, Cadaval, Caldas da Rainha, Lourinhã, Nazaré, Óbidos, Peniche, Rio Maior, Sobral de Monte Agraço and Torres Vedras. In that year, Resioeste received the concession for the operation and management of the system for a period of 25 years.

The history of Resioeste would intersect with that of Valorsul in 2010, the year in which they merged, giving rise to a single entity responsible for the valorization and treatment of waste from the entire Lisbon and Oeste region.

In early 1996, the conclusions of the Environmental Impact Study for the Urban Solid Waste Treatment Plant were presented, revealing no significant constraints, which allowed the project to move on to the next phase. Following a public tender, the contract for the construction of the Urban Solid Waste Treatment Plant (CTRSU) was signed with Foster Wheeler, and work began at the end of the year.
The definition of the solution for urban waste management in the Valorsul intervention area was well underway and the POGIRSU - Operational Plan for Integrated Urban Solid Waste Management was approved by the Board of Directors.
This year also saw the decision to close the Santa Iria de Azóia landfill site (Loures). This will be replaced by a new landfill site to be installed in Mato da Cruz, near the municipal landfill site in Vila Franca de Xira, which will receive, in addition to waste that cannot be recovered, slag and other waste from the energy recovery plant.

On 28 September 1995, Valorsul signed a 25-year concession contract with the Ministry of the Environment, assuming responsibility for the design, construction and management of all the infrastructure necessary for the treatment of urban waste generated in its area of operation.
This year was marked by intense public debate: the population of the municipality of Loures expressed concerns about the potential environmental impacts of the future energy recovery plant to be installed in S. João da Talha. Despite many debates, clarifications and meetings, the project divided opinion. Valorsul's shareholders remained convinced that the construction of the energy recovery plant was essential to ensure a sustainable and structured solution for waste management in the region.

Valorsul was founded on September 16, 1994, as a public limited company composed of seven shareholders: Parque Expo'98, SA, Empresa Geral do Fomento, SA, Lisbon City Council, Eletricidade de Portugal, SA, Loures City Council, Amadora City Council, and Vila Franca de Xira City Council.
The Multimunicipal System for the Treatment and Recovery of Urban Solid Waste (USW) in Lisbon - North was created through Decree-Law No. 297/94 of November 21, integrating the municipalities of Amadora, Lisbon, Loures, and Vila Franca de Xira. The exclusive right to operate and manage this system was granted, under a concession regime, to a public limited company with public or predominantly public capital, created in accordance with commercial law. The objective of this new company, ambitious for the time, was to find and implement an effective solution for the disposal of thousands of tons of urban waste produced daily in the Greater Lisbon area.

At a time when the region's four landfills are at their maximum capacity, plans are beginning to be drawn up for an integrated waste management system, which includes the sorting of collected packaging, the organic recovery of biodegradable waste, the energy recovery of unsorted waste, and the landfilling of waste that cannot be recovered.

The energy recovery plant, an infrastructure representing an investment of approximately 155 million euros, was scheduled for completion in 1997 and would allow the processing of up to 2,000 tons of unsorted municipal waste per day.

Using the most modern technologies, Valorsul's integrated waste management system would allow the processing and recovery of household waste from Greater Lisbon in an environmentally responsible, economically viable way, with sustainable benefits for the future of the region.