#LIFEBIOBEST workshops: Mastering bio-waste collection and treatment – Lessons from Portugal’s pioneers | São João da Madeira and Silves, Portugal
Dates and locations: 22 October (09:00-15:30) – Torre da Oliva, São João da Madeira | 24 October (09:00-15:30) – Fissul, Silves
Format: In-person events
Language: Portuguese
Contact: [email protected]
Programmes: Agenda for São João da Madeira (22 October) | Agenda for Silves (24 October)
📝 Register here for the workshop in S. João da Madeira and here for the workshop in Silves
The Portuguese organisation ZERO, with the support of the LIFE BIOBEST consortium partners—Association of Cities and Regions for sustainable Resource management (ACR+), Consorzio Italiano Compostatori (CIC), Zero Waste Europe (ZWE), European Compost Network ECN e.V. (ECN), and ENT foundation (ENT)—invites you to attend our technical workshops on bio-waste collection and treatment on 22 October in São João da Madeira and 24 October in Silves.
Current context on bio-waste collection
The development of strategic plans for 2030 (PAPERSU) for Portuguese municipalities and the entities responsible for waste treatment is crucial for meeting the EU targets for reuse and recycling by 2030. Measures to be implemented from 2024 to 2030, including collection, treatment at the source, prevention, and reuse, must be included in municipal strategic plans to secure funding and project approval.
The collection and treatment of bio-waste at the source is a primary action for municipalities, as they are responsible for both selective collection and decentralised treatment (community and home composting). Door-to-door collection has proven to yield the best results in terms of the quantity and quality of collected materials. However, the number of municipalities in Portugal adopting this model remains very limited. Additionally, the development of community composting projects has been minimal and lacks a holistic approach.
What are the goals of these technical workshops?
The workshops aim to showcase best practices in bio-waste management at national and regional levels, following the recently launched LIFE BIOBEST guidelines based on the experiences of Europe’s best performers in bio-waste management.
Given the current focus on introducing a 5th container, it is necessary to analyse the required investments and the expected outcomes for each collection model, always striving for maximum efficiency in financial, environmental, and social performance.
- Representatives from municipalities that have implemented door-to-door biowaste collection, and were among the first to adopt this model nationally, will participate.
- Experts from the LIFE BIOBEST project will present guidelines on selective biowaste collection, governance, economic incentives, compost and digestate, as well as communication and engagement practices, highlighting EU best practices.
Who are these events for?
- Elected officials and technicians from Portuguese municipalities launching or improving their bio-waste collection systems and overcome barriers and local challenges;
- Waste company representatives, civil society members, and academia interested in local bio-waste management.
Important Details:
- Please note that there are two different workshops taking place, one in S. João da Madeira (22 October) and the other in Silves (24 October). While the contents of the workshops are not 100% identical, they are very similar, and we therefore recommend that you choose which workshop to join based on date, location, and best practices showcased.
- The workshops will be in Portuguese, with a few presentations done in Spanish and English.
- Catering will be provided during the workshops.
- Participation is free of charge; only travel and accommodation costs must be covered by participants.
For more information, write to [email protected]
📝 Register here for the workshop in S. João da Madeira and here for the workshop in Silves
These events are part of the EU-funded LIFE BIOBEST project. The workshops, organised by ZERO along with a Consortium of partners involving ENT Foundation, Consorzio Italiano Compostatori (CIC), European Compost Network ECN e.V. (ECN), the Association of Cities and Regions for sustainable Resource management (ACR+), and Zero Waste Europe (ZWE), aim to promote concrete actions among EU officials for the development and implementation of efficient local bio-waste collection systems. Its objective is to highlight best practices in bio-waste management and address challenges faced by local authorities.
