Algar, the EGF Concessionaire for the Algarve region, is already working on the construction of the third cell of the Sotavento Sanitary Landfill, located in Cortelha, Loulé, which serves the population of this municipality, Faro, Olhão, São Brás de Alportel, Tavira, Vila Real de Santo António, Castro Marim and Alcoutim.
 
Its construction was already planned under the initial project of the landfill, namely in the second phase of its implementation, with the purpose of increasing the capacity of deposition of the undifferentiated waste collected in the municipalities of the Eastern Algarve.
 
 
 
 
The new cell, which is being built with the best available techniques of environmental preservation, in order to guarantee the waterproofing of the soil and the protection of the aquifers, will allow the reception of around 130,000 tons of waste per year and an operating life of 10 years.
 
The environmental protection system at the bottom of the cell consists of:

. basal regularization layer with 0.50 m of average thickness;
. bentonite geocomposite;
. geomembrane in high density polyethylene, 2.0mm thick;
. non-woven geotextile of 500gr / m2 (protection of mechanics);
. draining layer with 0.50m thickness.

The slopes consist of:

. basal regularization layer with 0.50 m of average thickness;
. bentonite geocomposite;
. geomembrane in high density polyethylene, 2.0mm thick;
. non-woven geotextile of 500gr / m2 (protection of mechanics).

The bottom of the cell will have a drainage network to capture the produced effluents, which will be sent to treatment at the Leachate Treatment Station. As the cell is being exploited, biogas drains will be built, which will allow the degasification of the waste mass and consequent capture for the production of electric energy. The contract, valued at 4 million euros, is expected to be completed within a maximum period of 16 months, with this investment being expected to achieve a backlog of 1,200,000 cubic meters for the disposal of waste.