PAYT pilots in Portugal: municipalities taking control of waste costs

Pay-As-You-Throw arrives in Portuguese cities

In 2024 the Portuguese national government opened new Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) funding schemes, making it financially viable for municipalities to overhaul their waste collection systems. Municipalities including Fornos de Algodres, São João da Madeira, and Silves are implementing the measures they observed during study visits to Italy and Spain: including door-to-door collection schedules, smart bin tags that identify and reject incorrectly sorted bins, and digital monitoring tools.

What PAYT means for residents

• Households that separate waste correctly and generate less residual waste pay lower bills
• The system creates a direct, fair link between individual behaviour and cost
• Monitoring data helps municipalities pinpoint collection problems before they worsen

What you can do

• If your municipality is piloting PAYT, attend public information sessions and ask how your household can benefit
• Advocate with your local council to apply for the new national PAYT funding
• Follow ZERO for the latest funding rounds and municipal case studies

Why it matters

With 60 % of Portugal's waste going to overflowing landfills, cost-based incentives for households are one of the fastest levers available. PAYT pilots in Silves and São João da Madeira are the first step toward national uptake.

Source & repost

Shared here so you can get inspired or find action already happening near you. Solarpunker does not own or organise it.

• National coordinator: ZERO – Associação Sistema Terrestre Sustentável
• Report chapter: ZWE State of Zero Waste Municipalities, 5th edition