Sociedade Ponto Verde (SPV) sent more than 711,000 tonnes of packaging waste for recycling in 2011. In the year in which it commemorated its 15th anniversary, the quantity of used packaging sent for recycling grew once again and was 6% higher than in 2010.
The overall recycling rate was 64%, which exceeded the target of 55% set in its licence. These figures were only possible thanks to the work of all the partners of the SIGRE (Integrated System for the Management of Packaging Waste), especially the municipal systems (SMAUT). They are responsible for collecting waste and directly encouraging the public to separate it. \"The results are proof that we can continue to count on the commitment of the public, local authorities and SMAUT to dispose of packaging waste properly, in spite of the difficult year that the country experienced in 2011,\" said Luís Veiga Martins, Managing Director of Sociedade Ponto Verde. \"There is no turning back. There are more and more people separating packaging waste in their homes. We believe that the recycling rate will continue to rise,\" he added.
Paper and cardboard, wood, and plastic and metal exceeded the specific targets set in the SPV licence. In absolute terms, paper and cardboard were recycled most in Portugal (321,040 tonnes), followed by glass (217,159 tonnes).
|
|
2010 |
2011 |
Comparison 2010/11 |
Legal target |
Percentage achieved |
Deviation from legal target |
|
Glass |
191,681 |
217,158 |
13% |
60% |
53% |
- 7.1 pp |
|
Paper and cardboard |
318,457 |
321,039 |
1% |
60% |
85.1% |
+ 25 pp |
|
Beverage cartons |
6,094 |
6,380 |
5% |
|||
|
Plastic |
65,080 |
73,773 |
13% |
22.5% |
37.1% |
+15 pp |
|
Steel |
44,777 |
48,971 |
9% |
50% |
83.4% |
+33 pp |
|
Aluminium |
1,467 |
1,343 |
-8% |
|||
|
Wood |
40,307 |
42,537 |
6% |
15% |
78.1% |
+ 63 pp |
|
Total |
667,863 |
711,202 |
6% |
55% |
64% |
+ 9 pp |
As for the remaining materials, 73,773 tonnes of plastic (+13%), 50,313 tonnes of metal (steel and aluminium) (+8%), 6,380 tonnes of beverage cartons (+5%) and 42,538 tonnes of wood (+6%) were taken back.
In 2012 Sociedade Ponto Verde wants to continue the good results achieved in the last 15 years without slowing down the growth in recycling. It is counting on all its partners to work towards a society where recycling plays a decisive role. It is going to be necessary to find integrated solutions to ensure the continuity and sustainability of the SIGRE.
In order to achieve its goals, Sociedade Ponto Verde suggested a target of 70% for household packaging waste in the specifications submitted to Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente in July 2011.
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