It is urgent to increase
the percentage of recycled waste.
Despite the declining population, the amount of waste each of us produces has been increasing: 2024 data points to a value of 1.4 kg/person/day. However, what we produce is not being properly separated, and selective collection rates are stagnant at 20%. In other words, of everything we produce (5.5 million tons per year), only 1 million tons are being separated by citizens. The potential for improving these figures is significant.
Through this initiative, the Portuguese Environmental Agency aims to raise awareness among all citizens, municipalities, and partner entities about the need to reduce waste production and, for unavoidable waste, increase its separation, with direct consequences for the environment: more recycled waste and less waste in landfills.
