Since March 2022, Emarp has promoted the appreciation of organic waste in Portimão. In two and a half years, the county valued 2,117 tons of food remains, reflecting the growing commitment of the Portimonenses to sustainability and the transformation of this matter into 100% natural fertilizer.
In 2024, EMARP forwarded 853 tons of food remains to the Algar Organic Appreciation Center, an increase of 16.69% compared to the 731 tons of 2023. Despite significant progress, there is a long way to maximize to maximize separation and appreciation of this flow of waste.
Despite advances in organic appreciation, Emarp warns of “the high percentage of undifferentiated waste that continues to a landfill.” In 2024, the company collected 30,200 tons of undifferentiated waste, representing 67.25% of the total waste production of the municipality. This situation is particularly worrying, since the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) decreed “state of emergency” in national landfills, which have only 14% (on average) of remaining capacity.
On the other hand, the multi -selective collection registered a 5.36% increase compared to 2023, with the citizens separating 2,125 tons of plastic and metal, 2,861 tons of glass and 2,688 tons of paper/card. Despite this growth, the values are still far from reaching the levels needed to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.
At national level, Portugal remains far from meeting the recycling goals set by the European Union. APA points out that “the 35 national landfills face a critical situation, with only 14% of remaining capacity.”
Despite the 4% increase in the recycling rate, the country should guarantee up to 2025 the selective collection of 55% of urban waste and 65% of packaging placed on the market. To achieve this goal, it is essential that “we all rethink our consumption, we reduce waste, we reuse whenever possible and properly separate all types of waste, with special emphasis on the valorization of organic waste.”
In 2025, it says it will continue to “reinforce its commitment to selective collection of organic waste, to projects and initiatives aimed at expanding the separation and appreciation of this fraction”. The success of this strategy will be critical to reducing landfill pressure and increasing recycling rates in the municipality, consolidating Portimão as an example of sustainability.
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