The Municipality of São João da Madeira has just launched a new phase aimed at creating a more modern and efficient waste management system, using underground Green Bee containers by Lasso, equipped with an access control system.
The local authority has installed 12 eco-islands of underground Green Bee containers, which will serve around one thousand families. These include a controlled-access system applied to mixed waste and bio-waste containers, which will come into force at the beginning of May. Paper/cardboard, plastic/metal, and glass containers will remain freely accessible.
According to the municipality, “with this model, it will be possible to identify waste producers, in line with national and European legislation, with a view to introducing in the future a fairer pricing system based on the quantity of waste produced (PAYT), rather than on water consumption, as is currently the case.”
Citizens will be given access to an electronic key, which they must request by April 30 via the free phone number 800 206 869. From that date onward, general waste and bio-waste containers will only be accessible to residents who have obtained the electronic key.
At the same time, the Municipality is also working with the non-domestic sector in the civic center to provide bio-waste containers. This process is expected to be completed by April 30, with the removal of surface waste containers from public streets in this area planned for early May.
“The Municipality of São João da Madeira has been achieving impressive results in its urban waste management, and Lasso is proud to contribute to this success through its containers for selective urban waste collection, now equipped with a new generation of smart systems,” said Pedro Martins da Costa, CEO of Lasso.
Overall waste management results in the city in 2025, considering a population of 24,247 inhabitants (INE 2023), include:
- Total recycling increased from 26% (2024) to 36%, with a target of 60% by 2030
- Recycling of paper/cardboard, plastic/metal, and glass rose from 21.4% to 22.3%
- Annual urban waste generation per capita in São João da Madeira is 436.94 kg/inhabitant, below the target of 511, meaning the municipality has already met this goal
Daily urban waste generation per capita is 1.2 kg/inhabitant, compared to the national average of 1.4 kg/inhabitant (2023)