Regional Government highlights excellent results in waste management in 2024, bringing Region closer to meeting EU targets

Aug. 8, 2025

The Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Action, Alonso Miguel, presented today in São Miguel the results of the Regional Waste Information System (SRIR) Report concerning 2024. He highlighted the "exceptional progress" achieved by the Region in the field of waste management and recovery.

The government official acknowledged that "the results of the 2024 SRIR are a source of enormous satisfaction for the Regional Government, and will certainly also be a source of pride for the Azoreans, local authorities, companies, associations and society as a whole."

According to the government official, the indicators now revealed "reflect the very positive progress that has been made in recent years in terms of waste prevention and management in the Azores as a result of a joint, sustained and committed effort by the Regional Government and all entities involved in waste management."

Alonso Miguel pointed out that "77% of urban waste produced in the Azores in 2024 underwent recovery operations, with 31% in material recovery, 30% in organic recovery and 16% in energy recovery."

For the Regional Secretary, "there are two indicators that stand out, which are truly differentiating and prestigious for the Region, namely the Preparation for Reuse and Recycling Rate and the Landfill Diversion Rate."

“The Preparation for Reuse and Recycling Rate reached 48% in 2024, reflecting a 33% increase compared to 2023 and a 54% increase compared to 2020, when the rate was only 31.2%. This is an increase of 16.8 percentage points in just four years, which is truly remarkable, bringing us very close to achieving the EU 55% target for 2025," he stressed.

The government official revealed that this significant increase, between 2023 and 2024, was strongly driven by the remarkable improvement in the performance of São Miguel Island.   This is largely due to the entry into operation of the Mechanical and Organic Processing Plants at the São Miguel Ecopark, which jointly represented an investment of more than 19 million Euros by Musami.

Alonso Miguel praised the "enormous financial effort made by Musami at the São Miguel Ecopark, which, considering the construction of the recently opened Energy Recovery Plant, amounts to 120 million Euros."

"Following the efforts made and the progress achieved, it has already been possible to reach a Reuse and Recycling Preparation Rate of 56% on São Miguel Island in 2024, even exceeding the target set in the  Azores Strategic Waste Management Plan (PEPGRA 20+) for 2025," he pointed out.

The Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Action stated that "another remarkable achievement is the reduction in the Landfill Waste Diversion Rate, which fell from 45% in 2020 to 24% in 2024. This means that the 30% target set in PEPGRA 20+ for 2025 has already been exceeded and that we are on the right track to achieve the EU 10% target by 2035," he said.

Alonso Miguel acknowledged, however, that "despite the good results, complex challenges remain, particularly on Terceira Island, where the Preparation for Reuse and Recycling Rate remains stagnant, even registering a slight reduction compared to 2023. As such, efforts are being made, in conjunction with TERAMB, to find sources of community funding, or through the Environmental Fund, to implement solutions that can help remedy this situation," he assured.

The government official added that "these results are even more impressive when compared with national figures, which, according to the latest data from 2023, show that Mainland Portugal has a Reuse and Recycling Preparation Rate of only 32%, while the figure achieved in the Region in 2024 stood at 48%."

Alonso Miguel considered that "this performance and these very positive indicators are the result of a concerted effort between all entities responsible for waste management, starting with the Regional Government, but also including Municipal Councils, Parish Councils, waste management operators, companies, associations and other entities. We are also seeing growing environmental awareness among the Azorean population."

The Regional Secretary assured that improving waste management has been a priority for the Regional Government, achieved through a sustained focus on environmental awareness and education, legislative updates and the implementation of a wide range of measures for waste management and the circular economy. Special emphasis was given to the investment of 9.1 million Euros in the modernisation of the regional Waste Processing Centres and the implementation of the pilot project for the Non-Reusable Packaging Deposit System, which represented an investment of 2 million Euros.

Alonso Miguel concluded by reiterating the “Regional Government’s commitment to continuous improvement in waste management and to the transition to a circular economy, which are fundamental aspects for ensuring the sustainable development of the islands."