In 2024
Total waste production in the Autonomous Region of Madeira, excluding inert waste disposal, increased by 13.4%
According to an estimate produced by the Regional Directorate for the Environment and the Sea (DRAM), total waste production in the Autonomous Region of Madeira (ARM) amounted to around 386.9 thousand tonnes in 2024, representing an increase of 74.3 thousand tonnes (+23.8%) compared with the previous year. This rise is mainly explained by the growth in inert waste disposal (+37.7% compared with 2023). It should be noted that this type of waste is primarily associated with construction and demolition activities. Thus, when excluding this component, total waste production stood at 202.9 thousand tonnes, 13.4% above the 2023 value.
A considerable share of total waste production is associated with waste sent to the Meia Serra Waste Treatment Plant (WTP), which totalled around 144.8 thousand tonnes in 2024, +3.8% compared with the previous year. This increase was driven by a 5.2% rise in energy recovery (waste incineration), which offset the 14.8% decrease observed in landfill disposal.
Meanwhile, waste sent for recycling/recovery outside the ARM amounted to 37.3 thousand tonnes, +4.1% compared with 2023. Significant increases were recorded in tyres (+73.6%), used oils (+56.6%), end-of-life vehicle waste after dismantling (+24.6%) and cardboard (+10.3%). Conversely, decreases were observed in paper (-21.5%) and scrap/metals (-8.7%).
Considering the composting carried out at the Meia Serra WTP, waste recovery undertaken in the ARM totalled 27.6 thousand tonnes (+168.5% compared with 2023), with construction and demolition waste recovery standing out, accounting for 69.8% of the total.
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