The Portuguese government has approved the Terra+ strategy through 2030, aimed at reducing pressure on the country’s nearly full landfill sites.

In 2024, more than half of Portugal’s municipal waste was sent to landfills, while the European Union requires this figure to be reduced to 10% by 2035. Particular concern surrounds landfill capacity: 13 of the country’s 32 sites have only around 20% of their capacity remaining.

The plan includes the construction of 11 waste-sorting facilities, seven anaerobic digestion plants to convert organic waste into energy, and upgrades to existing waste-management infrastructure.

Total investment is estimated at €2.3 billion, including €1.6 billion in public funding. The strategy has sparked debate over a possible temporary increase in waste incineration and a lack of transparency regarding the allocation of part of the funding.