Portugal produces “1.8 million tons of waste” in the summer, putting pressure on landfills
The Portuguese Environmental Agency (APA) warns of an increase in waste generation during the summer, noting that August is the month of greatest concern. Speaking to TSF, APA president José Pimenta Machado stated that “between June and September, the country generates 1.8 million tons of municipal solid waste,” with 480,000 tons produced in August alone.
This rise in waste generation can be attributed to growth in “tourism and the economy,” Machado points out. The agency is promoting the “Let’s separate the waste” campaign to raise public awareness about this issue, particularly regarding “biowaste.” “Bio-waste consists of food scraps, such as rice or potatoes,” which account for 40% of the waste produced.
Compounded by a lack of recycling, the accumulation of trash places immense pressure on the country’s 32 landfills. “Landfills are at 20% of their maximum capacity. They are nearing the end of their lifespan,” Machado warns, adding that Portugal has only “five or six years to change its behavior.”
This shift in habits involves generating “less waste” and sorting it, so that it can be “recovered and transformed into a resource.”
