CCDR-LVT proposes EU-funded waste management project in Portugal

The Coordination and Regional Development Commission of Lisbon and Vale do Tejo (CCDR-LVT) has submitted a proposal to the European Union’s LIFE Programme to test a new regional waste management model. The project, named PAYT4CIRCULARITY, aims to reduce undifferentiated waste by 20% and increase selective collection by 25%.

The initiative utilizes the ‘Pay-As-You-Throw’ (PAYT) principle, which incentivizes citizens to produce less waste and improve recycling by basing costs on the amount of waste generated. If approved, the 48-month project will conduct five pilot demonstrations across different urban, business, and community contexts in the municipalities of Lisbon, Oeiras, Cascais, Santarém, and Golegã.

The project combines technological tools, economic incentives, and behavioral science to develop a methodology that can be replicated across other regions to support circular economy goals.