Portugal began 2019 with positive data on packaging recycling from selective collection, with an 11% growth in the first half of the year compared to the same period of the previous year, reaching approximately 175 tons of waste sent for recycling. This is equivalent to the weight of 450 commercial airplanes.
Among the materials that registered the greatest increase in tons collected, glass stands out, with a growth of 10%. Paper/cardboard (with a growth of 16%), aluminum (growth of 13%), and plastic (which grew by 5%) also contributed. “ These data, recorded throughout the Integrated Packaging Waste Management System (SIGRE), reflect an increasing attention given by the Portuguese to sustainability and the circular economy, and to the positive impact of recycling in environmental and socio-economic terms ,” emphasizes Ana Isabel Trigo Morais, CEO of Sociedade Ponto Verde. “ They also reflect the joint commitment of the sector's direct players to fulfilling the country's objectives regarding the recovery of packaging waste. Important steps have included the modernization of selective collection models and equipment, such as the focus on local and door-to-door collection ,” highlights Ana Isabel Trigo Morais.
In addition to packaging waste management activities, SPV continues to focus on raising awareness and educating people about proper recycling practices, targeting both families and the business sector. Some ongoing examples include the HORECA Recycling Mission, with on-site actions aimed at hotels, restaurants, and cafes; the educational project Academia Ponto Verde, aimed at students and teachers in primary, secondary, and higher education; and participation in initiatives such as the Continente Food Festival, Sumol Summer Fest, NOS Alive, and Super Bock Super Rock, with the goal of encouraging the public to adopt best recycling practices during events and also to encourage them to adopt these behaviors in the handling of used packaging in their daily lives.
