Tag: underground containers

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Sopsa once again awarded with the COTEC Innovative Status

Publicado em por Marco Ferreira
Inovadora COTEC

Sopsa Eco Innovation has once again been awarded the COTEC Innovative Status (Estatuto INOVADORA COTEC) for 2026—a distinction granted by COTEC Portugal that recognizes domestic companies standing out for their innovation capacity, financial stability, and management quality.

This distinction reinforces Sopsa’s position as a benchmark in developing innovative solutions for selective waste collection. It acknowledges the company’s work over recent years in creating products and services that contribute to cities that are more sustainable, efficient, and prepared for future environmental challenges.

According to COTEC Portugal, the COTEC Innovative Status distinguishes companies that demonstrate the ability to combine sound financial stability, consistent investment in innovation capital, and high management standards—factors that are crucial for increasing competitiveness and creating value.

This recognition stems from the company’s overall performance and the dedication of the entire Sopsa team, who work daily to develop innovative urban waste management solutions. Notable among these are the Lasso™ underground and semi-underground container systems—currently deployed in various municipalities both in Portugal and abroad—which contribute to more efficient selective waste collection that integrates seamlessly into the urban landscape.

“Receiving the COTEC Innovative Status again is a source of great pride for the entire team. This distinction recognizes not only the results achieved but also our ongoing commitment to innovation, sustainability, and the creation of solutions that meet the needs of municipalities and communities,” highlights Pedro Martins da Costa, CEO of Sopsa. The renewal of this status confirms the company’s ability to innovate, grow, and create value sustainably, solidifying its position among the organizations that contribute most significantly to the dynamics of Portugal’s innovation economy.

Lasso™ underground containers with hydraulic system arrive in Italy

Publicado em por Marco Ferreira
Sistemas hidráulicos Lasso chegam a Sora

Lasso Eco Innovation has taken another step in its internationalization strategy with the installation of the brand’s first underground containers in Italy. The project was carried out in the city of Sora in collaboration with EMZ Tecnologie Ambientali—Lasso’s local distributor—strengthening a partnership that is now embarking on a promising journey in the Italian market.

The initial waste collection point comprises six Lasso C3 hydraulic underground containers designed for the selective collection of plastic, paper, glass, general waste, and bio-waste. The solution features “Red Bee” units equipped with a drum mechanism and access control, incorporating technology developed by EMZ for smart waste management systems.

The opportunity was identified and developed by EMZ, which has played a pivotal role in introducing Lasso™ solutions to Italy. This project marks a significant milestone for both companies and demonstrates the potential of their collaboration to promote more efficient, modern, and sustainable waste collection systems.

Lasso™ hydraulic underground containers stand out for their high reliability, robustness, and build quality—characteristics that make them a benchmark in various international markets. Operational safety is another key attribute, ensuring simple and secure use for operators. Furthermore, the hydraulic system eliminates the need for cranes during collection operations, thereby reducing service times and operating costs, as it allows for the use of equipment municipalities already possess.

The choice of the city of Sora for this inaugural installation in Italy also holds special significance. Located in the Lazio region along the Liri River, Sora is a city with a strong historical and cultural identity that preserves the characteristics of a traditional Italian medieval town. The commitment to modern waste management solutions enhances the urban environment and improves the quality of life for both residents and visitors.

“For Lasso, this project marks the beginning of a new phase of growth in Italy. Together with EMZ, our goal is to continue developing innovative urban waste management solutions for this Mediterranean country, contributing to cleaner, more sustainable cities in the future,” says Sofia Sampaio, Lasso’s International Sales Director.

Underground vs. surface-level containers: which is the most cost-effective solution over 15 years?

Publicado em por Marco Ferreira
Contentores enterrados Lasso

In urban waste management, the decision between surface containers and underground systems is often based on the initial investment. However, when analyzed from a 15-year perspective—the average lifespan of a Lasso™ underground container in perfect working order—the equation changes significantly.

For years, the choice of waste collection solutions has been guided by a simple question:

“Which option is the cheapest to install?”

But forward-looking municipalities are asking a different question:

“Which solution costs the least… over time?”

What isn’t apparent in the initial decision

At first glance, surface-level containers seem unbeatable: lower initial investment, quick installation, and simple implementation.

But that is only part of the story.

When we analyze on-the-ground operations, other factors quickly come to the forefront:

  • • Collection frequency
  • • Operating hours
  • • Labor costs
  • • Fuel consumption
  • • Equipment wear and tear

And this is where the game changes.

Operational efficiency: the real turning point

Underground and semi-underground solutions allow for greater waste storage within the same footprint.

In practice, this translates into something very simple:

In practice, this translates into something very simple: ✔ Fewer collections ✔ Less vehicle traffic ✔ Fewer resources required

In other words, less operational pressure… every day, for years.

A matter of durability (and not just functionality)

While above-ground containers are exposed to constant wear and tear—weather, impacts, heavy use—underground systems operate in a protected environment, offering significantly longer lifecycles and requiring less frequent replacement.

  • • Less maintenance
  • • Fewer disruptions
  • • Greater predictability

And then there are the factors that don’t show up in the numbers… yet carry significant weight:

  • • Quality of public space
  • • Urban integration
  • • Cleanliness and odor control
  • • Citizen acceptance

These elements may not appear directly in a budget, but they make all the difference in how the city is perceived.

The smartest decision isn’t the most obvious one

When looking at the full lifecycle—not just one year, but 3, 5, 10, or more— it becomes clear that the most economical choice isn’t always the cheapest at the time of purchase – it is the one that generates the most value over time.

Lasso highlights intelligent waste management systems at the Portugal Smart Cities Summit 2026

Publicado em por Marco Ferreira
Portugal Smart Cities Summit

Lasso Eco Innovation is taking part in the 2026 edition of the Portugal Smart Cities Summit, held from May 12 to 14 at the FIL exhibition center in Lisbon, reinforcing its commitment to developing innovative solutions for waste management in the cities of the future.

During the event, the company is showcasing intelligent systems for urban waste management, integrated into its lasso™ underground and semi-underground container solutions, designed to promote more efficient, sustainable, and technologically advanced selective waste collection.

With more than 30 years of experience in the sector, the company has been investing in the development of equipment that combines design, functionality, and technological innovation, in line with cities’ sustainability policies. The solutions presented include intelligent systems for monitoring container fill levels and access control technologies compatible with PAYT (Pay-As-You-Throw) and SAYT (Save-As-You-Throw) pricing models. These systems help optimize collection operations, reduce operational costs, and encourage waste separation at the source — benefits aligned with the sustainability and digital transition goals of smart cities.

Among the highlights are also the lasso™ underground and semi-underground containers, which stand out for their high capacity, reduced visual impact, and harmonious integration into urban spaces, promoting improved urban cleanliness and hygiene, reduced occupation of public space, and greater efficiency in selective waste collection.

In this edition of the Portugal Smart Cities Summit, the guest region is OesteCIM (Intercommunal Community of the West). Several municipalities in this region already use lasso™ equipment, namely Mafra, Alcobaça, and Torres Vedras, where the brand’s solutions have helped modernize selective waste collection systems and support compliance with European targets for waste management, sustainability, and the transition to a more circular economy.

Lasso strengthens its presence in France with a new project in Chamonix

Publicado em por Marco Ferreira
Soluções Lasso em França

Lasso has just won an important international tender in the Vallée de Chamonix – Mont-Blanc region, in France, in collaboration with its exclusive partner Contenur, thereby reinforcing its position as a benchmark in the development of innovative solutions for urban waste management.

The first deliveries of the project are already underway, marking the launch of a strategic initiative aimed at modernizing the existing collection system in the region. The project involves retrofitting the current extraction system installed in semi-underground containers, which until now used bags and metal containers from various brands.

The solution proposed by Lasso includes the complete replacement of this system with metal containers equipped with Kinshofer technology, complemented by metal lids with two openings, ensuring greater operational efficiency, durability, and an improved user experience for citizens.

In total, 641 internal units of the semi-underground containers will be replaced, along with their respective lids, in a phased process that will continue until 2027.

“This project represents not only a significant step in modernizing waste collection infrastructure in Chamonix, but also strengthens the strategic partnership between Lasso and Contenur, demonstrating their joint ability to address complex challenges with high-performance technical solutions,” says Sofia Sampaio, Commercial Director for the international market.

With this achievement, Lasso continues to establish itself in the international market, bringing innovation, quality, and sustainability to new territories.

Green Bee underground containers in the new phase of waste collection in São João da Madeira

Publicado em por Marco Ferreira
Contentores enterrados Green Bee em S. João da Madeira

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)

Lasso presents containerization solutions in Romania for a growing market

Publicado em por Marco Ferreira
Green Energy Expo & Romenvirotec

Between March 3 and 5, Lasso™ will be present at Green Energy Expo & Romenvirotec, one of the leading events dedicated to energy, environment, and sustainable technologies in Eastern Europe. The brand will showcase its product portfolio of semi-underground and underground containers for selective waste colection.

In an increasingly demanding European context in terms of waste management policies and selective collection, Romania currently stands out as a market undergoing growth and transformation in the waste management sector, with a strong focus on infrastructure modernization and the expansion of separate waste collection.

Within this framework, Lasso™ will participate in this specialized trade fair, presenting its containerization solutions for the selective collection of municipal waste, developed to meet the current needs of municipalities, multi-municipal systems, and private operators.

Throughout the event, the company will showcase its entire product range, highlighting robust, functional solutions adaptable to different urban contexts. Among the featured products will be underground waste containers, including the hydraulic underground container system, a distinctive solution that combines operational efficiency, enhancement of public space, and sustainability.

With its participation in Green Energy Expo & Romenvirotec, Lasso™ reinforces its commitment to innovation and to the development of solutions aligned with the latest environmental and regulatory requirements.

The company invites all industry professionals to visit its booth and discover firsthand the underground container solutions that are transforming urban waste management.

Lasso SEMI-PE containers reinforce sustainability in the municipality of Mafra

Publicado em por Marco Ferreira

Lasso™ has completed the installation of new semi-underground SEMI-PE containers in the municipality of Mafra, in Portugal, reinforcing the disposal capacity and efficiency of the urban waste collection system in various areas of the municipality.

In total, 64 semi-underground polyethylene Lasso™ containers were installed, distributed across 16 recycling points located in various parts of the municipality, covering the categories of mixed waste, packaging, paper, and glass. Capacities vary between 5 m³ for mixed waste, packaging, and paper, and 3 m³ for glass, ensuring an adequate response to local needs. Some locations also received containers for batteries with a minimum capacity of 8 liters, encouraging the correct disposal of this specific waste.

The equipment features recycled plastic coating (Wood Imitation), a standard lid, and a conventional and reinforced Masterbag extraction system, ensuring durability, safety, and ease of operation. Some units have been installed in the city center of Mafra, but also in parishes such as Ericeira, Malveira, and Venda do Pinheiro, among others.

Caring for the environment in this territory takes on special significance in a municipality like Mafra, known for its historical and natural heritage. The imposing Mafra Convent, classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is one of the country’s greatest cultural symbols and attracts visitors from all over the world, and the municipality is also marked by its strong connection to the sea, with beaches of high environmental quality and international recognition. Therefore, caring for a heritage that belongs to everyone is essential.

For Lasso, this installation represents another step in supporting municipalities in the transition to more efficient and sustainable collection systems.“The installation of these Lasso™ semi-underground containers in Mafra demonstrates the municipality’s commitment to modern and environmentally responsible solutions. We are proud to contribute to improving waste management in a municipality with such significant heritage and environmental value. These systems allow for greater capacity, better urban integration, and more comfort for users,” says Sofia Sampaio, commercial director of Lasso.

Lasso semi-underground containers installed in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence Region

Publicado em por Alexandra Martins

The Lasso™ brand continues to consolidate its presence in the French market, this time through the DLVAgglo – Durance Luberon Verdon Agglomération project implemented by Contenur, its distributor in France. The project involves the installation of semi-underground containers for the selective collection of urban waste in the agglomeration of communities located in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department, in southeastern France.

This region is distinguished by its strong natural and landscape component, marked by rural areas, small communities and a high environmental value, integrating mountainous areas, valleys and touristic areas of great importance. This context requires waste management solutions that combine robustness, functionality and integration into the public space, criteria that are the basis for Lasso’s waste containerization solutions.

To date, approximately 130 semi-underground concrete containers with a capacity of 5 m³ have been supplied, intended for the collection of four waste streams: mixed waste, packaging, paper, and glass.

The applied coatings have varied between “Rolled Pebble” and “Recycled Plastic,” with an “Image Coating” already implemented in one of the recycling banks, a solution visible in the most recent installations. The installation of five containers in painted concrete in the color “Forge” for the community of Gréoux-les-Bains is also planned for a future delivery.

The modular HDPE lids maintained a consistent configuration throughout the various phases of the project. For the mixed waste stream, lids with a double drum and a lid adapted for large producers were used, while the remaining streams use “Façade” vertical opening lids, also with a lid adapted for large producers.

For Sofia Sampaio, commercial director of Lasso, this project represents a strategic step in the brand’s international growth: “Projects like DLVAgglo demonstrate confidence in our solutions and reinforce the importance of the partnership with Contenur, which has been fundamental to consolidating our brand in France, through solutions adapted to the technical and territorial specificities of each region.”

With this project, Lasso reaffirms its commitment to developing sustainable, durable, and technically adapted solutions to meet the needs of each community, contributing to more efficient waste management in demanding urban and rural contexts.

Ardèche region installs 150 Lasso semi-underground containers

Publicado em por Alexandra Martins
Contentores semienterrados Lasso

Contenur, our partner in the French market, has completed the installation of 150 Lasso™ semi-underground containers in the territory of the Privas Centre Ardèche Community.

The project, which began a year ago, represents a milestone in the modernization of waste collection in this community, contributing to the improvement of citizens’ quality of life, the optimization of public services, and the promotion of more responsible environmental practices.

The new equipment allows for the selective collection of mixed waste, packaging, glass, and cardboard — the latter through specially adapted containers with a dedicated opening system.

Thanks to their versatility and landscape integration, Lasso semi-underground containers adapt harmoniously to different urban and natural contexts. The Privas Centre Ardèche region, which combines river, mountain, and city areas, exemplifies this integration capacity — ensuring efficient collection without compromising the aesthetics or environmental balance of public spaces.

The project is part of the long-term strategy of the Communauté d’Agglomération Privas Centre Ardèche, a territory strongly committed to ecological challenges and committed to the environmental and energy transition. Over the next three years, the initiative is planned to continue, with the aim of equipping the entire territory with this equipment.

Contenur and Lasso Eco Innovation thus continue to strengthen their role as reference partners in the implementation of efficient and ecological solutions for urban waste management in France.

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