Between January and September 2026, 373,182 tonnes of packaging waste were selectively recovered within the Integrated System for Packaging Waste Management (SIGRE), an increase of 1.1% compared to the corresponding period in 2025. Despite this growth, the result remains insufficient to meet national targets and highlights the ongoing effort required from all stakeholders in the system, according to a press release.
According to the same source, paper/cardboard was the material that contributed most, in volume, to the growth recorded, with a rise of 4.4%, to 127,919 tonnes. Wood, although with a smaller share in the total, posted the most expressive percentage increase, up 24.9%, reaching 2,611 tonnes. Cardboard packaging for liquids (ECAL) grew, in turn, by 2.7%, totaling 5,990 tonnes.
Glass remains the material with the largest recovered volume, with 166,157 tonnes, and registered a growth of 0.7% compared with the corresponding period. This stream is particularly relevant for achieving recycling targets, as it represents around 45% of the total selective collection in SIGRE, and improving its performance could have a decisive impact on national results.
Meanwhile, plastic, steel, and aluminum recorded results below those verified in the same period of 2025. Plastic recovery decreased by 3.8%, to 63,477 tonnes; in steel, the reduction was 6.0%, to 5,398 tonnes; and aluminum fell 4.6%, totaling 1,630 tonnes.
“The evolution recorded up to September is positive and shows that the work carried out on the ground is producing results. It is important to acknowledge the daily effort of municipalities, of the Urban Waste Management Systems responsible for collection and sorting, and of the other partners. However, a growth of 1.1% is still not sufficient in light of the targets we must meet. Glass, due to its weight in the overall materials recovered, is a decisive ally, but we need to accelerate in all streams, particularly in those that continue to register declines,” says Pedro Simões, CEO of Novo Verde.
To contribute to greater participation in recycling and to improve results, Novo Verde will continue to invest in solutions that bring this act closer to the daily life of Portuguese people. The organization’s approach combines awareness-raising and environmental literacy initiatives, such as Green Generation (Geração Verdão) and Transformarium, with investment in innovation and in its own collection networks to increase collection and process efficiency. Alongside these initiatives, Novo Verde will continue to work with municipalities, SGRU, operators, and companies in developing responses capable of capturing more packaging for recycling.
