Algarve best recyclers

The Algarve is the region of Portugal which contributes most when it comes to recycling, with around 18,000 tonnes of glass, paper, plastic and card sent for recycling each year.

The administrator of Algar, the company which takes care of solid residues in the Algarve, says the Algarve is the region which contributes most ‘per capita’ in continental Portugal, however it is in Madeira where people are most environmentally conscious.

Hélio Barros revealed these facts during a ceremony that was held to celebrate the delivery of a Quality and Environment Management Integrated System certificate the company had applied for in 2007. Over 9,000 hours of training, involving 232 employees, were needed for the certificate, allowing Algar to achieve one of their strategic goals.

Algar currently possesses two rubbish tips, in the Eastern and Western Algarve, eight transfer stations, two sorting units, thirteen eco-centres and two bio-gas production units.

In 2009, the company is focusing on transforming gases to produce electric energy and is going to build a Used Cooking Oil Transformation Plant, for the purpose of reducing the consumption of fossil fuels. A three million euro investment is also planned for two automatic sorting plants, to ease the pressure on the current sorting units which are close to their full capacity.