18 May

LIPOR presents the 2026 Roadmap to turn waste prevention into a concrete and measurable action.

LIPOR is presenting the Roadmap for Waste Prevention and Recycling at Source 2026, a strategic instrument designed to accelerate the transition towards a more circular, sustainable and participatory model.

Inspired by the principle that "the best waste is the one that is never produced”, the Roadmap is aligned with the European waste management hierarchy and with the objectives defined in PERSU 2030. It positions itself as an ambitious yet realistic plan, applicable to both public and private organisations.

"We change the world when we look beyond what we are. We’ve always looked around us. We look ahead, now”, reads the LIPOR Manifesto, and it is in this spirit that we recognise ourselves, in a vision that underpins this new strategic commitment.

Results highlight the impact of prevention

The figures achieved in 2025 already demonstrate the impact of the prevention and recycling at source policies implemented by LIPOR and its partners.

Over the past year, the production of 11,666.5 t of waste was avoided, resulting from the direct prevention of 6,084.3 t and the recycling at source of 5,582.2 t of biowaste. This performance translated into financial savings of 598 thousand euros, a reduction of 3,285.54 t of CO₂ equivalent emissions and a media value exceeding 8.7 million euros.

Six strategic areas to change behaviour

The 2026 Roadmap is structured around six interconnected areas of action, promoting concrete changes in the way organisations produce, purchase, consume and engage with the community.

Preserving Soil | The focus on regenerative practices includes urban gardens, composting and the sustainable management of green spaces. In 2025, the "Horta à Porta” initiative gained a new agroforestry concept in Crestins, in the municipality of Maia, bringing the total to 15.92 hectares of sustainable food production.
Reducing Waste | Reducing food waste and adopting more conscious consumption patterns keep playing a central role. The "Dose Certa” programme welcomed 12 additional establishments, reaching a total of 75 participants, while the "Embrulha.” project involved 204 establishments and gave a second life to 67,500 meals.
Reusing and Repairing | The valorisation of used goods and equipment is another priority of the Roadmap. In 2025, four "Let’s SWAP” markets were held, with more than 1,800 items exchanged, and ten "Flea Market” events were monitored, where more than 3,400 items were sold on average per market. In the area of repair, the CREW project recovered 223 electrical and electronic devices, complemented by 15 "Repair Café” sessions, encouraging a culture of extending the useful life of products.
Recycling at Source | The decentralisation of organic recycling continues to expand. A further 222 home composters were distributed, bringing the total number of units implemented to 16,733. Community composting also gained three new sites, totalling 12 active areas.
Educating and Training for Action | The educational component remains one of the pillars of the Roadmap. During the European Week for Waste Reduction alone, 147 activities were recorded, while more than 208 news related to prevention and recycling at source reached the media.
Innovating and Measuring Impact | Only by measuring can we make the best decisions. The Roadmap also focuses on monitoring results, innovation and the production of scientific knowledge. In 2025, 51 partners from the environmental, social and economic sectors took part in impact measurement and reporting.

LIPOR also participated in international conferences and scientific publications on circular economy, food waste and sustainable waste management, reinforcing the technical and academic dimension of this strategy.

With the 2026 Roadmap, LIPOR aims to consolidate an integrated vision of waste prevention, promoting a structural shift in behaviours and strengthening the involvement of communities, businesses and public institutions in building a more circular and resilient territory.

Find out more about these and other results here: We prevent, transform and regenerate. It is part of us!.