"RecolhaBio" - Support for the selective collection of bio-waste

The challenge of this project arises from Decree-Law No. 102-D/2020, which mandates selective collection networks for bio-waste and waste separation and recycling at source. The aim is to ensure that by 2030, landfills no longer accept waste that can be recycled or recovered. This aligns with Fornos’ 2033-2025 environmental strategy, which focuses on sustainable production and consumption, carbon neutrality, and biodiversity preservation.

To achieve these goals, two projects were launched: the "Circular Economy and Biowaste Project" and the "Waste Management Monitoring Project." The first promotes efficient resource use through dematerialization, recycling, reuse, and recovery to reduce waste. Bio-waste, comprising around 37% of common waste, is a primary focus due to its negative effects. Its decomposition causes odors, complicates material sorting, and leads to the loss of nutrients that could benefit agricultural and forestry use. A cost-effective plan for bio-waste collection and recovery has been implemented, including domestic or community composting. The second project focuses on creating the Municipal Waste Management Plan (PMGR 2030), which seeks to change the waste management paradigm. The aim is to prevent waste production, improve environmental quality, and protect human health via awareness campaigns.

The plan’s objectives include increasing circularity by reducing waste, boosting reuse, promoting green public procurement, and minimizing waste production for health and environmental protection. The strategy’s strengths include reducing landfill waste, improving nutrient cycling, creating value from waste, generating green jobs, fostering social inclusion, supporting environmental and climate goals, strengthening local public policies, and promoting environmental education and behaviour change. In 2024, each resident of Fornos recycled 126 kg of waste, a 40% increase from 2023. A total of 553 tons of recyclable and bio-waste were collected, 156 tons more than the previous year. The recycling rate per inhabitant reached 126 kg, 15 points above the national average. Undifferentiated waste decreased by 1.79% in 2024, with a reduction of 232 tons since 2018. The average annual undifferentiated waste per inhabitant was 339 kg, well below the national average of 513 kg.

To achieve these results, the municipality conducted awareness-raising actions, including billboards, press ads, distribution of promotional materials, newsletters, and social media campaigns. These efforts reinforced key messages and raised public awareness on sustainability. The active involvement of the population has been key to the strategy’s success, driven by a strong community commitment to sustainability.

Challenges such as cultural resistance to change, housing logistics, limited resources, lack of economic incentives, and the need for environmental literacy were overcome with a structured strategy and community engagement. Efforts ensured success; strategy aligns with goals.

Each inhabitant of the municipality of Fornos de Algodres recycled 126 kg per year, an increase of 36 kg per inhabitant per year compared to 2023, a significant increase of 40% compared to the same period last year, 15% above the national average.
In the door-to-door bio-waste service, which, among other things, collects coffee grounds and green waste, 90 tons were registered, an increase of 84 tons compared to the same period last year, meaning an increase of 1400% compared to 2023.

The project serves as a tried and tested model. Municipalities like Fornos de Algodres that have already implemented selective composting serve as a benchmark, showing that these kinds of challenges and solutions can be replicated in other regions. It also highlights the importance of low cost and sustainability. This strategy can be implemented with relatively low investment, bringing environmental and economic benefits. Moreover, the community engagement, with the great adherence of the population, has contributed to the success of this program. This was achieved thanks to educational campaigns and door-to-door actions, which are easily replicable in any location. With greater recycling, the amount of organic waste sent to landfills is reduced, leading to greater savings in the transportation and disposal of waste, while at the same time helps to reduce the carbon footprint by reducing the number of trips made by garbage trucks. The model developed by the municipality of Fornos de Algodres can be adapted to different contexts and adjusted to suit the amount of waste and the local processing capacity, and can be implemented in both a small town and a large city. The project can transfer the importance of sustainable fertilization. Residents have access to quality organic compost, which improves soil quality and promotes local food production. One key element of learning is also environmental awareness, as the community becomes more aware of the importance of waste management and environmental preservation-- and community strengthening, as community composting promotes interaction between residents, strengthening community ties.
The Municipality of Fornos de Algodres hopes that this initiative will inspire other communities to adopt similar organic waste management practices. Community composting not only benefits the environment, but also strengthens local ties and creates a healthier environment for everyone, not forgetting the economic contribution.

https://www.cm-fornosdealgodres.pt/municipio-de-fornos-de-algodres-celebra-resultados-positivos-no-projeto-de-economia-circular-e-biorresiduos-em-2024/