Resialentejo cuts landfill waste to 15% and exceeds EU recycling targets

The waste‑management operator Resialentejo in Portugal’s Baixo Alentejo region has dramatically reduced the share of municipal waste sent to landfill from 94 % in 2012 to 15 % projected for 2026, moving close to the EU goal of 10 % by 2030.

Its recycling performance also surpasses European requirements, with 65 % of the waste it treats being recycled – above the EU target of 63 % for the end of the decade. To sustain the service across eight municipalities, Resialentejo is constructing a new sanitary landfill to replace the ageing facility that will reach the end of its life in two years. The company is also assessing the possibility of offering part of the new capacity to other waste‑management systems, aiming to alleviate the broader national landfill crisis.

The results are attributed to continuous investment in infrastructure, improved waste‑processing techniques and community awareness campaigns that encourage waste reduction and recycling.