2023 Award "Best Practice in Citizen Participation"

In short, the goal of this project focused on promoting the environmental quality of ecosystems and reducing the adverse effects of pollution and other human activities, so that currently one of the major concerns of the Azores Government, through the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Change, focuses on contributing to the adoption of a circular economy model.

To achieve this paradigm shift, it has become necessary to stimulate a collective awareness about the impacts of individual actions and consumption habits.

It is in this perspective of concern in maintaining the focus on quantitative and qualitative waste prevention, combined with a reduction in the environmental impact of products throughout their life cycle that the deposit system for non-reusable beverage packaging in the Azores was implemented. An increase in the amount of packaging waste sent for material recovery has been recorded, as well as the quality of the material that reaches recycling industries, allowing for savings in the extraction of natural resources and producing safer recycled products.

This model, which allowed for the creation of new opportunities, jobs, and the promotion of innovations that brought competitive advantage, was also an incentive that was intended to reach all Azorean consumers, providing economic and social benefits through monetary savings and increased quality of life, by promoting the principles of the circular economy both at the production and consumption levels.

The pilot project, implemented in the Autonomous Region of the Azores, consisted of the installation of 25 reverse logistics machines that served all the inhabitants dispersed throughout the 9 islands of the archipelago, ensuring at least one equipment per municipality.

These machines were designed to receive plastic (PET), metal (aluminum) and glass beverage containers with a maximum capacity of up to 2.5 liters, with a consumer premium of at least 0.05€ per container. The awarding of prizes to the user was made through a credit card loading system or through an electronic application, thus avoiding the consumption of paper and ink in the printing of receipts. This prize money can be withdrawn through the Integrated Citizen Support Network (RIAC), in one of its 55 stores, in all the islands.

The beverage containers collected under the deposit system, fall within the definition of urban waste and / or equivalent and were sent for recovery through the respective management systems of urban waste. Involving the Municipal Waste management entities, namely the 19 municipalities of the Azores region through the respective Association and the licensed operators for the management of this type of waste.

The current project includes a strong communication component with the aim of disseminating, informing and raising awareness among the entire population living in the Azores about the activities arising from the application submitted and the operation of the pilot project. The three largest companies in the beverage industry based in the Azores were invited to assist throughout the project.

More information:

• Sistema de Deposito de Embalagens (External link)