Vila Real de Santo António unveils smart pedestrian access system as Brazilian cities expand recycling and circular‑mode

The municipality of Vila Real de Santo António (VRSA) in Portugal is installing an intelligent access‑control system for its historic centre’s pedestrian zone. Funded by the EU‑backed Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) with an investment of about €895,000, the project adds hydraulic barriers, Wi‑Fi, foot‑traffic monitoring and a digital marketplace to improve mobility, safety and local commerce.

In the same period, the town of Vila Viçosa completed the allocation of renovated social housing under the national PRR programme, finalising contracts that will provide dignified homes for local families.

In Brazil, several initiatives are promoting sustainability. Condominium managers are organising clothing‑collection points, swap fairs and donation campaigns to foster a circular fashion economy, a move endorsed by industry leaders such as Fabiano Fernandes of Grupo Bravo TE. Meanwhile, the RODA project in Salvador has collected over 84 tonnes of recyclable waste in its first year, using an electric collection vehicle and partnering with the municipal sustainability secretariat and the startup Solos. The city of Curitiba’s recycling chain continues to generate significant employment and economic activity, turning collected materials into raw inputs for local industries.

These programmes illustrate a broader push across Portugal and Brazil to combine urban renewal, smart infrastructure and circular‑economy practices to enhance environmental resilience and community well‑being.