Project Vidro +: Innovation and Collaboration to Boost Selective Glass Collection in the Greater Porto Region

To enhance the circularity of packaging glass, LIPOR and its Associated Municipalities, the Vidro+ Platform, and NOVO VERDE have joined forces to develop an innovative model to increase the selective collection of packaging glass.

The ambitious recycling targets necessitate substantial increases in the amount of selectively collected glass waste and enhancements in the quality of materials sent for recycling. Greater focus is needed on promoting the circular economy, which involves valuing glass waste as a raw material for manufacturing new products.

Glass recycling is essential for the environmental sustainability of the glass industry, as this material can be recycled indefinitely without losing quality. However, despite the start of selective glass collection in Portugal in the 1980s, the recycling rate remains below the established and expected targets. According to the 2023 Annual Urban Waste Report, 344,522 tons of packaging glass waste were disposed of in urban waste, but only 192,001 tons were selectively collected (56%). Additionally, the PERSU2030 plan has set a recovery rate target of 95% for glass waste, posing a significant challenge for Urban Waste Management Systems (SGRUs) and Municipalities.

On April 2nd, the Project Vidro+ (more glass) was presented at LIPOR. Through an innovative approach developed by the Kaizen Institute and by applying engineering to the process, the project is based on conducting a diagnosis and designing solutions to increase the quantity and quality of selectively collected glass. This will be achieved through door-to-door collection systems (households and businesses, including HORECA) and at recycling points, by identifying key challenges and opportunities for improvement.

In the words of Ana Cristina Carrola, member of the Board of Directors of the Portuguese Environment Agency, who closed the event: "the VIDRO + project is aligned with the national strategy and represents the effort of a value chain to meet its objectives and targets and achieve results that contribute to Portugal fulfilling its goals."

With this project, LIPOR and its Associated Municipalities, the Vidro + Platform, and NOVO VERDE demonstrate their ambition and commitment to achieving glass recycling targets.