Algarve waste treatment plant planned to be operational by 2034

The Portuguese Minister of Environment and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho, has announced plans for a new waste energy recovery unit in the Algarve region. The facility is projected to be operational by 2034 to address critical capacity issues in the region's existing landfills.

Currently, the Algarve's two landfills are approaching their limits, with capacity expected to last a maximum of two years. While efforts are underway to extend this capacity to seven years, the minister emphasized the need for a long-term solution to handle waste beyond 2035. The Algarve produces 400,000 tons of waste annually, with 85% currently sent to landfills—a figure significantly higher than the national average of 56% and much higher than European Union targets.

The Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) is scheduled to launch a tender on October 15 to study the technical solutions and specific location for the new unit. The project will be implemented in coordination with the 16 municipalities of the Algarve, represented by the Intermunicipal Community of the Algarve (AMAL), and is expected to utilize available European funding.