Algarve landfill expansion criticised as unsustainable by environmental group

The Almargem environmental association warned that expanding the two sanitary landfills in Portugal's Algarve region is not a sustainable solution for municipal waste. President Edgar Ribeiro said the plan breaches national and EU legislation, with 80% of biodegradable waste still destined for landfill, far above the EU target of 10%, and the existing sites risk reaching capacity by 2028.

Almargem attributes the problem to inadequate waste segregation at source and the seasonal surge of tourists, which increases waste generation. The group rejects new landfill cells as a short‑term fix, calling them a “quick fix” that will quickly become saturated. It proposes urgent expansion of mechanical‑biological treatment facilities to divert up to 70% of waste from landfills, along with door‑to‑door collection, polluter‑pays schemes and improved sorting infrastructure.

The association calls for an integrated waste‑management policy aligned with European best practices, arguing that without upstream reforms the region will continue to depend on landfill capacity.