New General Waste Prevention and Management Scheme approved for the Azores - Communication

Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e Ação Climática

The Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores approved last Wednesday the new General Waste Prevention and Management Scheme for the Azores, proposed by the Regional Government.

During the plenary session, the Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Action, Alonso Miguel, stressed that the waste management policy is "an enormous challenge, particularly complex in an archipelago and outermost region such as the Azores." Accordingly, it requires "a solid and well-defined strategy based on the principles of sustainability, the circular economy and respect for the waste management hierarchy."

In this context, the government official added that "waste prevention and management and the transition to a circular economy were adopted as strategic priorities in the programmes of the XIII and XIV Governments of the Azores, with a view to the sustainable development of the Region."

Alonso Miguel pointed out that the bill now approved "fulfils yet another commitment of the Government Programme for the current legislative term as it revises and updates the General Waste Prevention and Management Scheme for the Azores, following in-depth work to update and align the regional regulatory framework on waste, carried out in line with the revision of the specific waste streams scheme."

The law also provides for the revision of the legal frameworks for licensing and concession of waste management and landfill operations, in conjunction with recently approved strategic instruments, such as the Azores Waste Prevention and Management Programme – PEPGRA 20+, approved in 2023, and the Agenda for the Circular Economy of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, published in 2025.

Among the main amendments introduced, Alonso Miguel highlighted the extension of selective collection to new waste streams, the revision of the structure and application of the urban waste tariff charged by municipalities, which is expected to no longer be indexed to water consumption, the introduction of restrictions on the disposal or incineration of selectively collected waste, the revision of landfill rules and the creation of a specific section dedicated to marine litter.

"The separation of the urban waste tariff from the water bill is a fair measure that increases transparency and, above all, allows us to move towards models based on the polluter pays principle, according to which the most responsible households with the best waste separation habits have the possibility of paying less for this service," he continued.

The government official also emphasised that the law strengthens the instruments for planning and monitoring waste policies, clarifies licensing and transport procedures, updates the scheme applicable to construction and demolition waste, and promotes the adaptation of the regional system to the circular economy challenges and European environmental targets.

Alonso Miguel also pointed out that "the legislative proposal was enhanced through a widely participated public consultation process," involving society in general. It also counted on the contributions from the Regional Council for the Environment and Sustainable Development as well as various entities with expertise in waste prevention and management, namely municipalities, urban waste management entities, operators in the sector, the Regulatory Authority for Water and Waste Services of the Azores, the Regional Environment Inspectorate, the Regional Civil Engineering Laboratory and various regional administration departments.

During the discussion, the Regional Secretary highlighted “the very positive progress made in recent years in the Azores regarding environmental quality and waste prevention and management, as a result of a strong commitment to environmental awareness and a solid investment policy, which has led to extraordinary progress towards achieving the targets set at a Community and regional level.”

He added: "According to the latest data from the Regional Waste Information System, the Region achieved a Preparation for Reuse and Recycling Rate of 48% in 2024, coming very close to the EU target set for 2025. This reflects the development of rigorous strategic planning, the system's preparation capacity, joint efforts and coordination between entities, as well as the involvement of society and the implementation of solid investment policies in the waste sector."  

The Regional Secretary also highlighted "the extraordinary progress made in waste management in São Miguel, which meant that we exceeded, as early as 2024, the 55% target set for 2025 regarding the preparation for reuse and recycling rate.” He acknowledged that “the lack of a Mechanical and Biological Processing system in Terceira has limited the increase in recycling on the island, impacting results at a regional level.”

In this regard, Alonso Miguel announced his intention to meet with the Minister of Environment and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho, in early 2026, with the aim of "seeking a financing framework so that the municipalities of Terceira can move forward with the installation of a mechanical and biological processing solution, thereby overcoming these constraints and ensuring compliance with recycling targets."

Alonso Miguel concluded by stating that the approval of this Regional Legislative Decree "represents another decisive contribution to the regional waste prevention and management strategy and a firm step in the transition to a circular economy, towards the sustainable development of the Autonomous Region of the Azores."