ZAP // Tohey22, Stas_K, stevanovicigor / Depositphotos
In the year in which investment almost doubled, Portugal defaulted. A structural change in the system is called for.
Investment almost doubled in 2025. But that was the year in which Portugal defaulted of European recycling targets packaging.
The country should have been guaranteeing the selective collection of 65% of all packaging placed on the market – but it was left with 60,2%, according to a preliminary investigation.
Sociedade Ponto Verde reports that, last year, the Portuguese separated a total of 486,990 tons of packaging for recycling.
There was an increase, but it was a residual growth, of just 2% compared to 2024 (+10,385 tonnes).
The recycling of card fell 7%; On the other hand, recycling plastic rose 4% last year.
2025 was a decisive year for meeting packaging recycling targets. But these numbers show a structural mismatch between the investment made and the effective performance of selective collection.
The current model is not responding effectively nor is it able to transform resources into measurable performance, reads a statement sent to ZAP.
It’s just that the investment, the financial reinforcement in the Integrated Packaging Waste Management System (SIGRE), was historical: 220 million euros, plus 98 million. It’s almost double.
Since January 2025, new counterpart values (VC) – amounts paid to municipal and multi-municipal systems for packaging waste collection and sorting services.
Socidade Ponto Verde considers that the performance of citizens remains essential; but there needs to be a service collection convenient, efficient and adjusted to the urban and demographic realities of Portugal.
It is necessary to expand the optimization of the ecopoint network and collection circuits, the implementation of proximity or door-to-door collection systems, which better adapt to the characteristics of the urban space and population densities of the areas to be served, and better coordination between the Managing Entities.
That is, a change in system management.
And, the statement continues, inspection must also be part of a balanced and fair system.
