Collection Systems in Portugal 🇵🇹
About
Portugal uses a bring-bank system called 'Ecopontos' with color-coded containers: Yellow for packaging, Blue for paper/cardboard, and Green for glass. Bio-waste collection is being rolled out municipally. A medicine take-back scheme (VALORMED) operates via pharmacies.
Collection Streams
Plastic + Metal + Beverage Cartons (Yellow - Ecoponto amarelo)
What goes in:
- Packaging only, including: plastic packaging (bottles/jugs, yogurt pots, trays, detergent & hygiene containers, plastic bags/film); metal packaging (drinks/food cans, aluminium trays, aerosols/spray cans); beverage cartons (milk/juice/wine, etc.)
What does NOT go in:
- Plastic objects that aren't packaging (e.g., buckets, flip-flops, inflatables, toys)
- Metal objects that aren't packaging (pots/pans, cutlery, tools)
- Electronics, batteries
Notes:
- Key rule repeated in Portuguese guidance: 'only packaging'
- Packaging can go drained/emptied and it's generally not necessary to wash; flatten when possible
- If there's a cap/lid, guidance commonly says the lid can stay with the container
Paper & Cardboard (Blue - Ecoponto azul)
What goes in:
- Cardboard/paper packaging (packaging): boxes, cartons (clean/dry)
- Paper products (non-packaging accepted): newspapers, magazines, office paper, notebooks, envelopes, paper bags, etc.
What does NOT go in:
- Beverage cartons (milk/juice 'pacotes de bebidas') (packaging) → Yellow
- Tissues, napkins, paper towels (non-packaging) (even clean/small)
- Vegetal/parchment paper, diapers
Notes:
- Keep paper dry and without food stuck on
- Pizza boxes: accepted only without food leftovers; heavily food-soiled paper should not go here
- Some guidance in Portugal also notes paper cups for hot drinks can go in the blue stream
Glass (Green - Ecoponto verde)
What goes in:
- Glass packaging only (packaging): bottles, jars, food jars
- Commonly also accepted as packaging: perfume, deodorant, nail polish, candle glass containers
What does NOT go in:
- Drinking glasses / crystal (non-packaging)
- Ceramics/plates, Pyrex, mirrors, window glass (non-packaging)
- Lamps (these are WEEE, not glass packaging)
Notes:
- Only packaging
- Guidance commonly says: drain but no need to wash
- A commonly cited Portuguese rule: large lids/caps (>5 cm) should go to yellow, while small caps can stay with the glass packaging (to avoid being lost in sorting)
Bio-waste / Organics (Brown Bin - Contentor castanho)
What goes in:
- Food scraps (non-packaging): raw/cooked food, meat/fish, bread, soup leftovers, eggshells, coffee grounds
- Tea bags (non-packaging)
- Often accepted: paper napkins used with meals (non-packaging)
- Some municipalities also accept small garden waste (non-packaging)
What does NOT go in:
- Typical 'no' items (very important for clean organics): packaging of any kind (plastics/metals/glass); textiles, cigarette butts, pet waste; utensils/dishes, medicines, batteries/lamps
Notes:
- This stream varies most by municipality
- Example of a material variation: some places run 'green bag / optical sorting' where you place the tied green bag into the grey residual bin (still treated as bio-waste after sorting). Others use dedicated brown bins/door-to-door
- National framework requires separate collection of bio-waste, but rollout is municipal
Residual Waste (Lixo indiferenciado / Lixo comum)
What goes in:
- Non-recyclable / non-separated household waste, e.g.: diapers & hygiene waste (non-packaging); dirty/greasy paper (non-packaging) like used tissues/napkins/paper towels; broken drinking glasses / Pyrex / ceramics (non-packaging)
What does NOT go in:
- Items that belong in Ecopontos (packaging recyclables)
- WEEE (electronics), batteries, lamps
- Medicines (should go to pharmacy take-back)
- Bulky waste (furniture/mattresses)
Notes:
- Portugal's recycling bring-banks are primarily for packaging (and paper stream also accepts some non-packaging paper)
- When something isn't packaging and has no special drop-off, it typically ends up in indiferenciado or an ecocentro
Medicines & Pharma Packaging (VALORMED - Pharmacies)
What goes in:
- Expired/unused medicines (non-packaging content)
- Packaging & inserts: cartons, leaflets, blisters, bottles, tubes, etc. (packaging/non-packaging mix)
- Dosing accessories (spoons, dosing syringes, droppers, etc.)
What does NOT go in:
- Needles/sharps, mercury thermometers, electronics, dressings (gauze/cotton), chemicals/detergents, diapers
Notes:
- This is a household take-back stream via pharmacies, not ecopontos
- Don't put medicine packaging in blue/yellow: return it via VALORMED
Used Cooking Oil (OAU) - Oleões
What goes in:
- Used vegetable cooking oils (from frying or preserves), stored in a closed plastic bottle/jerrycan
What does NOT go in:
- Motor oil / lubricants and other contaminants
Notes:
- Typical user steps: let oil cool → pour into plastic bottle → close cap → place bottle into oleão
What Gets Collected
Accepted Items
- • Packaging materials (varies by stream)
- • Empty and clean containers
- • Material-specific items
Not Accepted
- • Non-packaging items
- • Contaminated materials
- • Hazardous containers with contents
Regional Variations
Collection systems in Portugal may vary by municipality or region. Local sorting capabilities, collection infrastructure, and acceptance criteria can differ significantly even within the same country.
Important Notes
Portugal primarily uses bring-banks (Ecopontos) rather than comprehensive kerbside collection
The 'packaging only' rule is critical for yellow and green containers
Bio-waste collection varies significantly by municipality—check local guidance
VALORMED is a special take-back scheme for medicines via pharmacies—don't put medicine packaging in regular recycling bins
Sources
Collection system information is based on national and regional guidelines. For the most current and location-specific information, consult local waste management authorities.