Lisbon, Jan. 20, 2026 (Lusa) - The door-to-door service provided by waste management company Electrão collected 613 tonnes of electrical equipment in Portugal last year, 34% more than in the previous year, according to a report released on Tuesday.
In a statement, the waste management company for electrical equipment, batteries and packaging took stock of its initiative to collect large household appliances free of charge from people's homes, which has been running for five years and has collected more than 1,300 tonnes of electrical waste.
Last year alone, 613 tonnes were collected (457 in the previous year), especially washing machines and dishwashers, which accounted for more than 250 tonnes of the total.
Electrão's campaign began in 2021 as a pilot project in only a few parishes in Lisbon (with lower collection rates), but currently covers 12 local authorities in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area and the Western Region. According to those responsible, the aim is to expand the service to more districts.
"Over five years, we have managed to remove more than 1,365 tonnes of electrical waste from our streets and ensure its proper treatment. It is an essential contribution to the circular economy and, above all, to simplifying the lives of those who want to recycle correctly," said Ricardo Furtado, director-general of Electrão's Electrical and Batteries division, quoted in the press release.
Last year, in addition to washing machines, refrigerators and freezers also accounted for a considerable weight in the final balance, 250 tonnes, followed by 55 tonnes of screens and monitors and 44 tonnes of small appliances. Added to this were seven tonnes of small computer equipment and 542 kilos of light bulbs.
The service's balance sheet for 2025 also includes almost a tonne of batteries and 179 kilos of printing consumables.
The door-to-door service (distinguished by consumers, according to the entity) allows citizens of the districts in question to schedule a collection with Electrão or participating local authorities, after which a team will collect the appliance free of charge and send it for recycling.
To request the service, you must have at least one bulky appliance to deliver, and smaller items can then be delivered, the organisation notes.
The project, Electrão points out, is "a decisive tool to combat the accumulation of electrical equipment in homes and its theft to the black market of appliances left on public roads".
Thus, it explains, the equipment is not diverted to the black market, "with negative impacts on public health and the environment," and instead is taken to official channels, where it is recycled "using best environmental practices."
Electrão - Associação de Gestão de Resíduos (Electrão - Waste Management Association) is the entity responsible for three of the main waste collection and recycling systems: packaging, batteries and used electrical equipment.
It manages a collection network for electrical equipment and used batteries with more than 15,300 collection points throughout the country and is also responsible for recycling packaging.
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