LISBON, Sept 4 (Reuters) – Portugal’s government said on Friday it had approved a €2.3 billion ($2.67 billion) investment plan through 2030 to tackle a growing waste disposal crisis, as the country struggles with dwindling landfill capacity.
Cabinet Minister Antonio Leitao Amaro said 13 of the country’s 32 landfill sites were nearing capacity, calling it one of the country’s biggest “hidden problems”.
Government data show Portugal generates 5.3 million tons of municipal waste annually, with 59% ending up in landfill, far above the national and European Union target of cutting that share to 10% by 2035.
“We need to act now and act decisively, as Portugal is running out of places to put its waste,” he said.
He said the investment would focus on expanding separate waste collection and recycling, building and upgrading waste treatment infrastructure, processing bio waste and reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill.
The investment programme will be financed through public funding from the central government and municipalities, European Union funds and private-sector investment from waste management companies.
($1 = 0.8610 euros)
(Reporting by Sergio Goncalves)
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