In a statement, the Association of Municipalities of Central Alentejo (AMCAL), composed of these five municipalities, indicated that the 1,850 tons of waste were collected through the ‘Separar sem Parar’ (Separate without Stopping) system, based on door-to-door selective collection.

This amount of waste was then delivered for treatment at the Vila Ruiva Sorting Station, in the municipality of Cuba, whose exploration is the responsibility of AMCAL.

Besides 2023 having ‘closed’ with this increase of 200 tons of recycled waste, compared to 2022, last year also represented “a historic milestone” for AMCAL, highlighted the association.

It was achieved “the capture of 80 kilos of recyclable waste (paper/cardboard, plastic/metal and glass) collected by each resident in these five municipalities over the last year”, he indicated.

According to the association, the increase in recycling “was felt in the reduction of unsorted waste”, since, last year, were collected, “only 8,973 tons, which represents a reduction of 540 tons compared to 2022.”

“Our objectives with the ‘Separar sem Parar’ door-to-door collection system are being met”, congratulated today the secretary general of the Association of Municipalities of Central Alentejo, Vítor Picado.

The same person in charge pointed out that selective collection and materials for recycling are “increasing significantly”, while at the same time “the amount of undifferentiated waste” collected is decreasing.

“In this way, we realize that the populations and companies of our five municipalities are increasingly committed to selective recycling, they are increasingly aware of the importance of recycling and of everyone, helping to reduce the impact on the environment”, he argued.

For Vítor Picado, the fact that each inhabitant is already “recycling 80 kilos per year” means that “the message [that AMCAL wants to convey] is getting through.”

“And we know that our strategy of carrying out door-to-door selective collection is, in fact, the correct way to separate waste and the results are proving this”, he highlighted.

In terms of recycled materials throughout 2023, paper/cardboard was the most collected, with a total of around 670 tons, followed by glass (660 tons) and packaging (close to 510 tons).

Per inhabitant, paper/cardboard (almost 30 kilos) continues to be the most recycled, followed by glass and packaging. Regarding unsorted waste, between 2022 and 2023, each resident in the AMCAL territory produced 24 kilos less waste.

‘Separar sem Parar’ is implemented in the five AMCAL municipalities - three in the district of Beja (Cuba, Alvito and Vidigueira) and two in Évora (Portel and Viana do Alentejo) - and collects packaging, cans, plastics, glass, paper and cardboard.