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Lixo Sustentável (Sustainable Waste)
Published on 10 August 2021
Portugal
Norte
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
In certain areas of Portugal, sorting waste and recycling rates are still very low and way below the EU and national goals. In the Municipality of Lousada, before the implementation of this practice, sorted recyclable waste represented only 8% of the total urban waste produced, with the remaining 92% ending in a landfill. Increasing the recycling rates was imperative, and ‘Lixo Sustentável’ (Sustainable Waste) was implemented as a way of encouraging domestic waste sorting.
A system was implemented at the local EcoCentre so to receive and weigh all waste items of plastic and metal packaging, glass, cardboard and paper that families would personally hand in. For each kilogram of delivered waste, the household receives the respective fee in the form of discounts in their monthly waste management taxes.
This way, hundreds of households have become exempted of that tax for many months! As a result of the rewards many more households engaging in sorting and recycling, with an overall positive impact in the municipal recycling rates.
The initiative is accompanied by awareness raising and educational campaigns, which results were boosted by the rewarding scheme.
A system was implemented at the local EcoCentre so to receive and weigh all waste items of plastic and metal packaging, glass, cardboard and paper that families would personally hand in. For each kilogram of delivered waste, the household receives the respective fee in the form of discounts in their monthly waste management taxes.
This way, hundreds of households have become exempted of that tax for many months! As a result of the rewards many more households engaging in sorting and recycling, with an overall positive impact in the municipal recycling rates.
The initiative is accompanied by awareness raising and educational campaigns, which results were boosted by the rewarding scheme.
Expert opinion
This practice is in line with the EU Waste Framework Directive, which has set ambitious targets for the preparing for re-use and the recycling of municipal waste of 65% by weight by 2035. Citizens must engage is sorting waste at their homes before. One option is to encourage people to take their recyclables to bring centres (eco points). This avoids the need for the municipality to pay for expensive door-to-door collection of separate reyclable waste fractions. Getting citizens to start changing their behaviour through a financial incentive as done here with a waiver from the waste tax, is a good means to catch their attention.
However, waiving waste fees for good sorting behaviour is not a good financial strategy for the municipality in the long run, as the waste fee is supposed to cover all types of waste collection and management, and there is still a cost, even if waste is diverted from expensive landfilling or incineration. Also, the most effective means to achieve highest recycling rates is to date door-to-door collection, or an intelligent street container allowing to identify the user.
However, waiving waste fees for good sorting behaviour is not a good financial strategy for the municipality in the long run, as the waste fee is supposed to cover all types of waste collection and management, and there is still a cost, even if waste is diverted from expensive landfilling or incineration. Also, the most effective means to achieve highest recycling rates is to date door-to-door collection, or an intelligent street container allowing to identify the user.
Works at
Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform
Resources needed
- EcoCentre or a facility to receive the waste
- One human resource to assist people handing in their waste, weigh and report it
- A reporting system where the waste’s value is declared and discounted in the municipal waste management taxes
- A communication strategy
- One human resource to assist people handing in their waste, weigh and report it
- A reporting system where the waste’s value is declared and discounted in the municipal waste management taxes
- A communication strategy
Evidence of success
- In the first 6 months, 41 tonnes of recyclable waste were gathered and prevented from deposition in landfill.
- In almost 4 years, over 1200 tonnes were gathered, valorized and deviated from landfill.
- Over 2000 households started sorting waste.
- Municipal recycling rate increased from 9 to 11%.
- Sorted waste increased from 22 to 39 kg/inhabitant/year, attaining policy targets (32).
- The system is financially sustainable: fees are offset by saving landfill occupation rates.
- In almost 4 years, over 1200 tonnes were gathered, valorized and deviated from landfill.
- Over 2000 households started sorting waste.
- Municipal recycling rate increased from 9 to 11%.
- Sorted waste increased from 22 to 39 kg/inhabitant/year, attaining policy targets (32).
- The system is financially sustainable: fees are offset by saving landfill occupation rates.
Potential for learning or transfer
Due to its financial sustainability, this practice may be replicated in other areas, especially those where landfill occupation is still high or in areas where waste recycling rates are still low. The main lesson learned is that the financial incentive is actually just the trigger for people to start sorting waste at home. After receiving the incentive, many households continue to sort waste correctly and deposit it in street containers, when they can’t go to the EcoCenter to deliver in hand and weigh the waste.
The habit of people going to the EcoCenter created a very meaningful opportunity to educate them and to raise awareness towards waste and other environmental issues. In this facility, people learn they can also deliver other types of waste (not eligible for rewarding) such as batteries, electronics, etc.
Much education and work in improving the waste recycling is still needed, but the financial incentive was definitely a good way to boost eco-friendly behaviors.
The habit of people going to the EcoCenter created a very meaningful opportunity to educate them and to raise awareness towards waste and other environmental issues. In this facility, people learn they can also deliver other types of waste (not eligible for rewarding) such as batteries, electronics, etc.
Much education and work in improving the waste recycling is still needed, but the financial incentive was definitely a good way to boost eco-friendly behaviors.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Municipality of Lousada
Portugal
Norte
Contact
Coordinator