‘The management of this waste has been neglected, leading to serious environmental problems’
08.05.24 - 16h22
Cândida Rocha
From 24 to 26 April, Green Savers will be discussing, with the help of experts, the evolution of some sectors of the environment in the 50 years since 25 April. For Professor Cândida Rocha of Lusófona University, "historically, the management of this waste has been neglected, leading to serious environmental problems such as soil contamination, surface and groundwater contamination and air pollution".
The Director of the Master's Degree in Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, says that when we analyse the current data from the annual reports on municipal waste in Portugal, we see that "we are far from an ideal situation in terms of production and final destination and that the figures indicate that the desired reduction, both in terms of production and disposal, has not been achieved".
- How has this sector evolved over the years, particularly the collection model, considering its history, administration and legislation?
The evolution of the municipal waste management sector over the last 50 years has been marked by several changes, both in terms of collection models and final destination. According to the General Waste Management Regime (RGGR), approved by Decree-Law no. º 102-D/2020, of 10 December, in its current wording, Municipal Waste (MW) is "waste: i) from undifferentiated collection and selective collection from households, including paper and cardboard, glass, metals, plastics, bio-waste, wood, textiles, packaging, waste electrical and electronic equipment, waste batteries and accumulators, as well as bulky waste, including mattresses and furniture; and ii) from undifferentiated collection and selective collection from other sources, if they are similar to household waste in their nature and composition."
Historically, the management of this waste has been neglected, leading to serious environmental problems such as soil contamination, surface and groundwater contamination and air pollution. At the end of the last century in Portugal, this waste was still often sent to open dumps, resulting in adverse impacts on both the environment and human health.
The end of the last century and the beginning of this century saw a transition to more structured and efficient collection systems. The introduction of selective collection systems has made it possible to separate recyclable waste such as paper, plastic, metal and glass, with the potential to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill or incineration.
However, when we analyse the current data from the annual reports on municipal waste in Portugal, we see that we are far from an ideal situation in terms of production and final destination, and that the figures indicate that the desired reduction in both production and disposal has not been achieved. In 2022 (the last year of data available from the APA), Portugal produced 5.3 million tonnes of municipal waste, an increase of 0.24% on the previous year. This means that each of us produces 1.4kg of waste per day. And the data isn't any more encouraging when we look at the collection figures, with 77 per cent of our waste being collected undifferentiated, which means we're separating just over 20 per cent of the waste we produce. With such low selective collection rates, it's therefore not surprising that the majority of our waste ends up in landfill (57%) or is burned in incinerators (15%), leaving little room for recycling and organic recovery through composting or anaerobic digestion, with very low rates of 16% and 8% respectively.
We urgently need to think about significant changes that can counteract this trend of stagnation seen over the last two decades and move towards correct waste management and sustainable materials management, in order to protect, preserve and improve the quality of the environment, protect human health, ensure prudent, efficient and rational use of natural resources, reduce pressure on the regenerative capacity of ecosystems and promote the principles of the circular economy.
What have been the biggest challenges over these 50 years?
Over the last 50 years, waste management has faced a number of significant challenges that have shaped its evolution. Among the many challenges, I would highlight raising public awareness of the negative impacts of excessive waste production and the importance of managing it properly. As the active involvement of citizens is fundamental to the success of waste management systems, there is a need to strengthen environmental education, which is an essential tool in publicising the waste management hierarchy, encouraging the promotion of waste prevention, reduction, reuse and recycling. We need to promote greater citizen involvement, encouraging their active participation, listening to their opinions and concerns in order to reflect this in the various strategies. Communication channels must be clear, standardised and accessible, so that citizens can obtain information on waste management, clarify doubts and provide feedback on the system implemented in their area of residence. Developing incentive and reward programmes for citizens who stand out for their environmental behaviour, namely in the correct separation of waste, is also one of the measures that should be considered in strategies to involve the population.
- Every year, Portugal buries three million tonnes of waste that could be put to good use. How do you get round this?
This situation can only be remedied by implementing various strategies that include the transition from the current linear economy to a circular economy, in which waste is seen as a resource that can be reused, repaired or recycled to create new products. Encouraging sustainable production and consumption, reducing waste production and promoting the design of more durable and easily recyclable products. By increasing separate collection and recycling by investing in comprehensive separate collection programmes, including the separation of recyclable waste at home, businesses and institutions, and by promoting public awareness of the importance of recycling by providing clear information on how and where waste can be separated and recycled. By investing in technologies for treating separately collected waste, such as composting or anaerobic digestion.
As an example, let's talk about the organic waste we produce every day through food waste. The US Environmental Protection Agency has created a Food Recovery Hierarchy, made up of six levels. According to this hierarchy, prevention should be prioritised over reuse, recycling and recovery. The 1st level, ‘Reduction at Source’, aims to minimise food waste at all stages, from production to the end consumer. The 2nd level ‘Feeding People in Need’ focuses on promoting donation campaigns for people/social institutions. This level aims to effectively reuse surplus food whose quality is intact. The 3rd level ‘Animal Feed’ includes actions to reuse food waste that is not suitable for human consumption but can be converted into nutritious products for animal feed. The 4th level ‘Industrial Use’ suggests the adoption of industrial recycling practices, through initiatives that address environmental and economic issues, enabling the production of energy, biomass, liquid fertiliser, etc. The 5th level ‘Composting’ aims to develop projects to transform food waste into organic fertiliser. Finally, the 6th level, ‘Incineration or Landfill’, corresponds to the destination or disposal of food waste that could not be reused in any way throughout the process. Knowing that biowaste in Portugal accounts for the largest share of the average physical characterisation of waste (39%), this hierarchy is an excellent example of how we can divert waste from landfill.
- If we don't implement actions with positive changes towards the future we want, the planet will reach a point of no return in terms of global warming, pollution and the degradation of natural resources, do you consider yourself optimistic about the possibility that, in Portugal specifically, we can achieve a good and sustainable evolution in this sector?
The issue of sustainability is undoubtedly crucial and its urgency cannot be underestimated. Despite all the challenges we face, I believe there is enormous potential for Portugal to make favourable and sustainable progress.
However, it is important to recognise that there is still a lot of work to be done. Portugal faces persistent challenges, including effective waste management, mitigating and adapting to climate change, protecting biodiversity and promoting more sustainable agricultural practices.
However, optimism lies in the ability of people and institutions in Portugal to recognise the importance of sustainability and to work together to achieve a future that involves using available resources rationally and consciously, without compromising their availability for future generations.
The necessary and urgent transition to a truly sustainable economy will require continuous efforts, effective policies and co-operation between different sectors of society. Collaboration between the government, companies, non-governmental organisations and citizens is crucial to achieving an economic model that balances growth with environmental preservation and social well-being.
Faced with the challenges and urgency of sustainability, we must tread a path of hope and action and awaken collective awareness in favour of a more balanced and conscious future. Optimism flourishes because change is possible when everyone contributes. Portugal must write a new chapter in which sustainable development takes centre stage.
Cândida Rocha - Lecturer on the Master's Degree in Environmental Engineering at Lusófona University
Source: GreenSavers
