Setúbal municipality wins international urban cleaning award as Portugal's Volta system hits 10 million returns

The municipality of Setúbal was presented with the "Escobas de Prata" international urban cleaning award for its "SETÚBAL com. posto Tem + Valor" program, which diverted about 9,300 tonnes of food biowaste from landfill between 2021 and 2025, avoided roughly 13,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions and cut treatment costs by around €600,000. The accolade was received in Madrid by Councilor Bruno Russo.

Separately, Portugal’s deposit‑return scheme, branded Volta, reported that more than 10 million single‑use beverage containers have been returned by citizens since its launch on 10 April. The system, which reimburses 10 cents per container at over 2,500 collection points across the mainland and autonomous regions, is seen as a key tool for meeting EU circular‑economy targets and aims for a 90 % collection rate by 2029.