Selective collection of packaging in Portugal increased by 3% in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the same period last year, but in the case of glass there was a decrease of 2%, it was announced this Monday.
According to the Integrated Packaging Waste Management System (SIGRE) published in a statement by Sociedade Ponto Verde (SPV), Portugal “will only meet the target [estabelecida] if every Portuguese recycles two more glass bottles a month.”
SPV welcomes the fact that the Portuguese continue to recycle “more and more”, having collected 108,368 tons of packaging from national eco-points in the first quarter of 2023, which means an increase of 3% compared to the same period in 2022.
“In this way, the country continues to achieve the targets for packaging recycling, with the exception of glass, which deserves special attention,” concludes the institution that organizes and manages the recycling and recycling of packaging waste by implementing SIGRE.
According to available data, glass recycling over the same period was about one ton less than in the first quarter of 2022, “reversing the growth trend seen over the past two years.”
The current national recycling rate for this material is 56% and the goal is to reach 75% by 2025, with “more active mobilization of all Portuguese is needed”.
“Therefore, it is important to call everyone together when the country is faced with new goals, not only in terms of packaging, but also other materials that are part of our daily lives as consumers,” says SPV Executive President (CEO), Ana Trigo Morais, as quoted in statement.
The manager of the company is urging “all Portuguese to recycle more packaging, namely glass”, an area where “the problem is bigger”, but insists that other materials such as aluminium, paper/cardboard or plastic should not be forgotten.
“For this, we need more separation, as well as a higher level of municipal collection service,” he concludes.
SIGRE’s performance data for the first quarter of 2023 also shows that 36,620 tons of paper/cardboard (+9%) and 19,589 tons of plastic (+2%) were sent for recycling.
Liquid food cartons (ECAL) saw the most significant growth, with 2,161 tonnes processed (+10%), according to SPV.
“These data show an increase in recycling in schools that have a higher volume of beverage cartons and that they are properly placed in the yellow eco-box as a result of educational actions carried out by Sociedade Ponto Verde with students and teachers. “, says a non-profit private organization that is responsible for sending packaging waste resulting from mass consumption for recycling and disposal.
According to the statement, SPV is the market leader and currently serves 8,200 clients among micro, small, medium and large companies.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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