After weeks of cleaning up the mud and counting losses, many Portuguese now face a practical question: how to get rid of their destroyed refrigerator, submerged washing machine or other household appliances that could not withstand the floods. ERP Portugal offers a free solution, collecting damaged equipment door-to-door.
Service aimed at municipalities in calamity
According to ERP Portugal, reported by Ekonomista, a website specializing in finance and economics, the entity launched an emergency operation to collect large equipment damaged by the Kristin, Leonardo and Marta depressions, which hit the country between January and February 2026.
The service is valid for citizens and companies in municipalities declared to be in a calamity or contingency situation, free of charge.
A country still recovering
The country is still recovering from what became known as the storm train that affected Portugal during January and February.
The depressions Ingrid, Joseph, Kristin, Leonardo and Marta caused 16 deaths, hundreds of injuries and displacement, in addition to partial or total damage to homes, businesses and infrastructure.
The Government declared a state of calamity in 68 municipalities, extending it twice until February 15, while firefighters, security forces and volunteers worked continuously on the ground.
The challenge of disposing of equipment
As the most critical phase of the emergency gave way to reconstruction, a logistical problem emerged: tons of unused appliances scattered across yards, garages and sidewalks. According to ERP Portugal, collecting this equipment is essential to avoid environmental risks and allow for adequate recycling.
The service covers large household appliances, such as refrigerators, freezers, washing machines and dishwashers, and large-screen televisions. For businesses, it also includes printers and other office and production equipment.
Ricardo Neto, president of ERP Portugal, says that the initiative aims not only to remove heavy equipment but to ensure that it is sent for recycling, preventing a possible environmental disaster.
Environmental risks avoided
Equipment such as refrigerators and trunks contain refrigerant gases and other compounds that, if disposed of incorrectly, can contaminate soil and groundwater. With so much destruction concentrated in a short period, ERP Portugal highlights the importance of ensuring that disposal is safe and environmentally responsible.
Collection points for small equipment
For smaller equipment, such as used batteries and small household appliances, the entity maintains its usual network of delivery points.
Worten, for example, works as a collection point in all nine stores located in the areas affected by the storms, according to the same source.
How to schedule collection
Scheduling collection is simple. Citizens and companies in the municipalities covered can contact ERP Portugal through the website eureciclo.pt, by telephone at 800 20 88 89 or by email at . Collection will be organized according to team availability and routes in each zone.
Counties covered
Among the municipalities covered are Águeda, Albergaria-a-Velha, Aveiro, Estarreja, Ílhavo, Murtosa, Ovar and Sever do Vouga, in the district of Aveiro; Coimbra, Montemor-o-Velho and Soure, in Coimbra; Leiria; and also Abrantes, Almeirim, Alpiarça, Azambuja, Benavente, Cartaxo, Chamusca, Constância, Coruche, Golegã, Santarém and Torres Novas, in the district of Santarém. In Setúbal, the collection includes Alcácer do Sal. The list can be adjusted according to the needs identified on the ground, according to ERP Portugal.
The entity belongs to the European Recycling Platform, present in 17 countries, and ensures that all waste electrical and electronic equipment and batteries are sent for certified recycling.
Furthermore, the emergency operation in Portugal is an extension of this principle applied to extraordinary circumstances, eliminating obstacles to responsible disposal and helping communities recover in a sustainable way, according to .
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