Algarve landfill nearing critical situation, environmentalists warn – Portugal Resident

Environmental group Ecotopia Activa has warned that the Algarve’s waste management system is facing serious structural problems, with the Aterro Sanitário do Sotavento (Sanitary Landfill of the Eastern Algarve) under growing pressure as it nears capacity.

In a statement, the environmentalists warn that the current situation is “unsustainable” and highlight long-standing weaknesses in the region’s handling of waste.

According to Ecotopia Activa, the Algarve’s multi-municipal waste management system, operated by Algar, remains heavily dependent on landfill disposal despite European Union targets promoting recycling and the circular economy.

The group points to public data and sector studies showing that around 80% of the region’s waste is still being sent to landfills, reflecting what it describes as “structural limitations in the efficiency of waste sorting and recycling systems”.

The problem cannot be blamed solely on individual behaviour, Ecotopia Activa says, arguing that the system itself requires continued investment, improved infrastructure and greater operational efficiency.

Proving its point, the group recalled how rubbish bins often overflow across the Algarve, particularly during the summer months when the region’s population skyrockets.

It also warned that rising waste management costs are increasingly affecting both municipalities and residents, who are paying high fees for a service that is struggling to meet demand.

In order to deal with these issues, Ecotopia Activa is calling for the urgent implementation of separate bio-waste collection, as required under European law, arguing that it is essential to reducing landfill dependency and improving organic waste recovery.

The organisation also defended stronger and more visible public awareness campaigns to encourage better waste separation at bins. Suggested measures include outdoor advertising, school campaigns, local radio initiatives, digital campaigns, community actions and door-to-door information efforts.

The group further called for increased staffing and improved logistical and operational resources linked to selective waste collection in order to reduce pressure on ecopontos (physical drop-off points for waste recycling) and improve recycling efficiency.

Ecotopia Activa is also urging authorities to adopt a “coherent regional strategy for the transition to a circular economy”, warning that continued reliance on landfill disposal is “incompatible” with European environmental goals and the Algarve’s long-term environmental resilience.

Further west, communities have also been protesting the worsening situation at the Aterro Sanitário do Barlavento (Sanitary Landfill of the Western Algarve), calling for solutions to the bad smell and swarms of flies, which have become increasingly common nuisances.