The 11th National Waste Forum was held in Lisbon, organized by the newspaper Água & Ambiente, and was supported by EGF. The Secretary of State for the Environment and the Assistant Secretary of State for Trade opened the event, and EGF was present with four panelists, who had the opportunity to discuss the new threats, challenges and opportunities for the waste sector. This year, the National Waste Forum privileged the debate on energy recovery, tariff regulation and management of specific waste streams.
 

In his speech, the President of EGF's Board of Directors, Ismael Gaspar, defended in the energy recovery panel, that "energy recovery is a scenario to be considered in addition to material recycling targets, and as such it is in this line that EGF will interpret the waste directives that will be adopted and transferred to the entire territory of the European Union. "
 

Miguel Lisboa, Production Manager at EGF, was present at the meeting and defended that "Mechanical and Biological Treatment Units (TMB), receiving undifferentiated waste, contribute decisively to meet the goal of diversion of organic waste from landfill and the goal of preparation for reuse and recycling. As such, the future waste management model, based on the community guidelines and the waste hierarchy, should result from a progressive adaptation of the current model, ensuring that the investments made will continue to add value.
 

Marta Guerreiro, EGF Engineering Department Director, and the Director of EGF's Legal and Regulatory Office, Marta Neves, were also present to discuss the new Integrated Packaging Waste Management System (SIGRE) and its operation with the dynamics of the new licenses (which allowed the entry of a second management entity earlier this year). These changes to the system also raised several legal and technical implications for the liberalization of the collection and treatment of packaging waste below 1.100 liters, whose current model assigns the municipalities the reserve of this activity.
 

It is recalled that by 2020 the European Commission's targets for the waste sector are based on the principles of the Circular Economy, and include the ambitious target of limiting 10% of waste for landfill.