Sorting and Recycling

Separating and recycling household waste

Sorting your waste saves natural and financial resources. This page provides you with all the practical information on how to dispose of your waste of all kinds at suitable collection points near you

Most of the contents of the garbage cans in the city of Lisbon are made up of recyclable materials such as cardboard, glass and organic waste. Composed mainly of water, they should not be burned. Separating your waste instead of throwing it in the regular garbage ensures that it is transformed into new objects and saves natural and financial resources.

Information on waste separation rules

Separate and deliver your waste

Waste collected in front of your house

Door-to-door, undifferentiated and selective collection in specific areas of the city

Road vehicles go door-to-door and collect waste in front of buildings:

  • Private individuals, or large producers (restaurants, markets, commerce and services);
  • Restaurants, markets, shops and services - glass and/or organic waste is also collected at the door of establishments, using individual containers;
  • Historic neighborhoods - a system of common containers on the street, with set collection days.

On collection days, the containers must be placed on the street between 6pm and 10pm and collected by 10am the following morning.


to find out the day of waste collection, you can consult the Waste Days information page

Waste to be separated at the Ecopoint

Equipment installed on public roads, prepared to receive recoverable waste

Residents can voluntarily go to one of the ecopoints to separate recoverable waste according to the containers provided.

Types of recoverable waste

  • Glass
  • Paper
  • Packaging
  • Organic waste
  • Batteries (in some sets)

a map of the recycling garbage cans is available on the Waste Days information page

Removal of bulky items

One-off selective collection

The Municipality of Lisbon offers an appointment for the removal of bulky items. The bulky item removal service is free and reserved for individuals. Companies or associations must use a private collector.

  • Bulky waste, green waste, construction waste or paper/cardboard in quantities of more than 100 kg

na Minha Rua LX

Free service available for individualrequests to remove bulky items.

Waste reception centers

At the reception center, residents can deposit waste whose characteristics and/or dimensions cannot be deposited in the waste containers or ecopoints available on the public highway

Waste can be deposited in the Waste Reception Centers voluntarily and free of charge, so small industries, businesses and individuals can use this Selective Disposal System.

Types of waste you can dispose of

  • paper/cardboard
  • used cooking oil
  • fluorescent lamps
  • electrical and electronic equipment

find out which centers you can go to in the contact directory

Coercion of non-compliance linked to waste

In the public space, a team of identified municipal inspectors is responsible for detecting, warning or even reporting any natural or legal person who does not comply with the waste management rules.

Lisbon's waste management, cleaning and urban hygiene regulations


Treatment and disposal

Information on types of recoverable waste