Portugal unveils €2.3 billion plan to tackle waste crisis as landfills near capacity
Portugal approves €2.3 billion waste plan through 2030 as 13 of 32 landfills near capacity.
Portugal's government has approved a €2.3 billion ($2.67 billion) investment plan running through 2030 to address a mounting waste disposal crisis, as the country's landfills approach exhaustion.
Cabinet Minister Antonio Leitao Amaro revealed that 13 of Portugal's 32 landfill sites are nearing capacity, describing the situation as one of the nation's most significant "hidden problems."
Government figures indicate Portugal produces 5.3 million tonnes of municipal waste annually, with 59 percent currently sent to landfill. This is far above the national and European Union target of reducing that share to 10 percent by 2035.
"We need to act now and act decisively, as Portugal is running out of places to put its waste," Amaro said.
The investment will target expanding separate waste collection and recycling systems, constructing and upgrading waste treatment facilities, processing bio-waste, and reducing overall landfill volumes.
Funding will come from a mix of central government and municipal budgets, European Union funds, and private-sector contributions from waste management companies.