Portugal’s packaging recycling performance showed little improvement in the first quarter of 2026, despite a major increase in investment in the sector, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the current system.
According to data from Sociedade Ponto Verde – a private, non-profit organisation that manages Portugal’s main system for recycling packaging waste – the amount of packaging waste sent for recycling fell by 1% compared to the same period last year, totalling 114,490 tonnes collected from recycling points.
“These are similar results to those registered in recent years, which prove that the current system is not effective and that the investment being made in the sector is not translating into better results,” the NGO says in a statement to the press.
“It is urgent that the country significantly increase the amount of packaging that is sent for recycling to reach its recycling target of 65%,” it adds.
Portugal remains below the European recycling target, having recorded a preliminary rate of 60.2% in 2025.
Municipal and concessionary waste systems have seen a significant increase in funding through compensation fees paid by packaging companies via managing entities such as Sociedade Ponto Verde.
Investment in the sector rose by more than €90 million in 2025, reaching €212 million, and is expected to increase by a further €25 million in 2026, bringing the total to €237 million.
However, the report stresses that this financial boost should be driving structural change and improved performance – something that has yet to materialise.
With landfills approaching capacity, the report highlights the urgency of improving recycling performance. It estimates that €32.7 million worth of recyclable packaging is still being lost to landfill.
Experts argue that the priority should now be modernising the system and improving efficiency through technology, better data use and more convenient solutions for citizens.
Glass and beverage cartons (ECAL) remain the most problematic materials.
Glass recycling dropped by 1% to 48,187 tonnes and continues to fall short of targets, while ECAL recycling declined by 2% to 2,100 tonnes, maintaining a recent downward trend.
Plastic packaging also saw a significant decrease of 8%, with 20,144 tonnes collected.
By contrast, paper and cardboard rose by 2% to 40,852 tonnes, and aluminium increased by 9% to 508 tonnes.
Suggested measures include smarter recycling points with sensor technology, expanded door-to-door collection systems and “pay-as-you-throw” schemes that incentivise waste separation.
Targeted initiatives such as assisted glass collection systems for the hospitality sector have already shown positive results, with pilot projects delivering increases of between 7% and 11% in glass recycling rates.
Ana Trigo Morais, CEO of Sociedade Ponto Verde, said the current results remain “below what is needed” to meet national and European targets.
“With such a significant increase in investment, we must be more demanding to ensure real change happens,” she said, calling for a more collaborative, data-driven approach focused on concrete results and long-term sustainability.
