Ten Algarve municipalities have already submitted applications to the regional Algarve 2030 program for investments in urban waste management, in an amount exceeding 28 million euros, of which 17 million correspond to European funding. Joining these projects are the investments of ALGAR, responsible for the treatment and valorization of waste in the region.
So far, more than four million euros have been invested in ALGAR projects and in projects of municipalities or municipal companies in Faro, Olhão, Loulé, São Brás de Alportel, Lagoa, Silves and Vila do Bispo.
The investments aim to accelerate the Algarve’s transition to a circular economy, strengthening selective collection, recycling and the valorization of waste as resources, with the objective of progressively reducing the amount sent to landfill.
At municipal level, the supports cover the acquisition of equipment and vehicles for the selective collection of bio-waste and other recyclable materials, domestic and community composting, modernization of eco-centres, optimization of collection circuits and digitalization of services. These measures seek to improve waste separation and increase reuse and recycling.
In turn, ALGAR’s investments focus on treatment and valorization infrastructures, including modernization of sorting systems and strengthening the capacity to valorize organic waste through composting or anaerobic digestion. Recovery of materials and nutrients is also one of the areas covered, with the goal of reducing the residual fraction deposited in landfill and improving the environmental efficiency of the regional system.
Accelerating the execution of the projects
One of the challenges now is to implement the planned investments, ensuring that the available funding translates into on-the-ground projects and tangible results for the region.
The execution of these operations is deemed essential to increase selective collection, strengthen recycling and reduce the deposition of urban waste in landfill, contributing to the achievement of national and European targets in this area.
The coordination between the municipalities, ALGAR and AMAL — the Algarve Intermunicipal Community — is pointed to as an important element to mobilize resources and realize the investments needed to transform the regional waste management system.
