Total selective collection increased, while unsorted collection decreased.
EGF, the company responsible for the treatment and recovery of urban waste in 174 municipalities in mainland Portugal, serving 60% of the population, recorded a 5% increase in total selective collection in 2023. This includes packaging, wood, bio-waste, and bulky waste.
The selective collection of paper and cardboard from the blue recycling bins increased by 1.3%, and the collection of plastic and metal from the yellow bins increased by 3.3%, reflecting EGF's continued investment in increasing the collection capacity of its concessionaires through recycling points, door-to-door domestic collection, and collection from businesses. Selective glass collection is bucking the growth trend, a fact still under study, which indicates a change in consumption habits that may justify the -2.4% decrease in glass packaging collected in 2023.
There is also a decrease in the reception of unsorted waste of -1.3% - a reduction that is still not very significant compared to waste prevention objectives, but which already illustrates a downward trend.
Collection of biowaste increased by 24%
The selective collection of biowaste shows a significant growth of 24%, and it should be noted that this is a collection that is in its initial phase throughout the country. These figures correspond to 100 of the 174 municipalities in the area of intervention of EGF concessionaires that delivered green waste or food scraps for recovery, totaling 100,000 tons.
Recovery, in the context of biowaste, is organic. These can be valued in two ways: in energy production, through the biogas produced, or through composting.
About EGF
EGF is a leading European company in the environmental sector and a leader in waste treatment and recovery in Portugal. Integrated into the MOTA-ENGIL Group, it is responsible for ensuring the treatment and recovery of waste in the most environmentally sound and economically sustainable way, contributing to the improvement of quality of life and the environment.
The management of waste treatment and recovery systems is carried out through 11 concessionary companies (Algar, Amarsul, Ersuc, Resiestrela, Resinorte, Resulima, Suldouro, Valorlis, Valorminho, Valnor, Valorsul), established in partnership with the municipalities served, which process approximately 3.3 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) annually, serving a population of 6.2 million people distributed across 174 municipalities, in an area equivalent to 60% of the territory in Portugal.
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