The Algarve's two landfills, at Portimão and Loulé, are close to full. The APA signed an 11-month study in Faro on 30 October to choose between incineration and sorting plants, and the minister says the solution will take four to five years to build.
A decree published today replaces the fixed shares of Portugal's waste management tax: from 2027 at least 60 percent must reach the Environmental Fund for waste projects, councils get at least 30 percent, and councils that meet their waste plans escape the yearly 5 euro rise.
SDR Portugal met the environment minister's 16 October deadline with a plan of 14 measures to cut street litter and ease pressure on supermarket machines, as Volta passed 500 million containers. Lisbon's mayor refused to meet it, and ACAPO says blind people cannot reclaim their 10 cents.
Zero says the CCDR LVT has confirmed in writing that the Amarsul landfill at the Ecoparque de Palmela broke its licence and the landfill rules by taking untreated organic waste. Amarsul says it has been told of no conclusions.
Zero says Portugal gathered just 32 percent of its electrical waste in 2024 against a 65 percent target, and an Electrão survey finds one in six people have put small devices in ordinary rubbish. Where to take them instead.
Portugal produced 5.667 million tonnes of urban waste in 2025 and recycled 39 percent, against a 55 percent target. Landfill still took 52 percent, and 34 municipalities have no real bio-waste collection, the Environment Agency's annual report shows.
Eurostat's 2024 figures put Portugal fourth in the EU for food waste, with 105 kg per person thrown away at home. An EU target for 2030 would mean cutting the retail, restaurant and household total by about 45 kg per person.
