Total selective collection increased and unsorted collection decreased

EGF, the company responsible for the treatment and recovery of urban waste in 174 municipalities in mainland Portugal and 60% of the population, recorded a 5% increase in total selective collection in 2023, including packaging, wood, bio-waste and bulky items.

Selective collection of paper and cardboard from blue recycling bins increased by 1.3%, and the collection of plastic and metal from the yellow bins increased by 3.3%, reflecting EGF's continued investment in increasing the collection capacity of its concessionaires through recycling bins, door-to-door domestic collection and collection from businesses. Selective glass collection bucks the growth trend, a fact still under study, which indicates a change in consumption habits that could justify the 2.4% decrease in glass packaging collected in 2023.

There has also been a decrease of 1.3% in the reception of unsorted waste - a reduction that is still insignificant in relation to waste prevention targets, but which already illustrates a downward trend.

Biowaste collection increased by 24%

Selective biowaste collection has grown significantly by 24%, although it should be noted that this type of collection is still in its early stages throughout the country. These figures correspond to 100 of the 174 municipalities in the area covered by EGF concessionaires that delivered green waste or food waste for recovery, totalling 100,000 tonnes.

Recovery, in the context of bio-waste, is organic. It can be recovered in two ways: in energy production, through the biogas produced, or through composting.