DRS Portugal delivered this Friday, October 16, to the Minister of Environment and Energy a cooperation plan aimed at preventing and mitigating the urban cleanliness challenges associated with the operation of the Deposit and Refund System (DRS). The document follows a government request made on September 29 and gathers proposals to reinforce coordination among the entities involved in waste management and public space, as disclosed in a press release.
According to the same source, the plan is structured around four strategic axes, with 14 measures, and includes a transversal component of governance and monitoring. The proposal envisions greater coordination with municipalities, parish councils, and Urban Waste Management Systems, seeking to address constraints identified during the initial phase of the system’s operation.
Among the priorities identified by the managing entity is the creation of solutions better suited to the needs of the HoReCa channel — hotels, restaurants and cafés — with the aim of reducing pressure on the automatic collection points installed in hypermarkets and supermarkets. DRS Portugal also advocates expanding the network’s coverage to underserved areas and high-traffic locations, including air and land transport terminals.
Another measure involves accelerating the installation of Volta Kiosks, fully financed by DRS Portugal, intended to facilitate the return of large quantities of packaging. The entity also notes that it is developing a logistics network dedicated to the HoReCa channel, to make the return process more convenient for operators.
The announcement comes at a time when the managing entity counts 500 million returned packaging items, about six months after the start of operation. The collection has been carried out through more than 3,000 Volta points — automatic and manual — and eight kiosks.
Despite these figures, DRS Portugal acknowledges that challenges in waste management and urban cleanliness persist. The plan thus proposes a coordinated action to respond to the social impacts observed, in a context that the entity also links to historical difficulties in cleaning cities and to the pressure of tourist activity.
DRS Portugal considers that strengthening the collection infrastructure and cooperation among the different entities will be decisive to increase packaging returns and reduce constraints in public spaces. The entity expresses willingness to work with the Government and local authorities, respecting the competencies of each stakeholder, with the aim of contributing to
