The complaints are not new, but in recent days they have gained two more voices. The Portimão and Albufeira City Councils criticized Algar's actions for the lack of efficient collection of recycling bins, leaving them to "overflow". The population's discontent is "generalized" and has forced local authorities to try to complete the work that would be Algar's responsibility.
Both communiqués do not skimp on criticism, similar to what the Câmara de Silves and the EMARP (Portimão Municipal Water and Waste Company).
If, on the one hand, the Portimão City Council talks about recyclables accumulated “in the street”, projecting an “image of slovenliness and lack of cleanliness”, the Albufeira City Council accuses Algar of causing, with these flaws, “unhealthy problems”.
«The situation, which also happens at other times of the year, is, during the summer, aggravated by the high temperatures that are felt», says the Albufeirense municipality.
«This situation is terrible for the image of Albufeira, since Algar is made up of 56% by Empresa Geral de Fomento (EGF), of the Mota Engil Group, and 44% by the municipalities of the Algarve. The municipalities are, therefore, in the minority, not exercising any power of influence with regard to the operational part of the company», highlights José Carlos Rolo, president of Albufeira Chamber.
The mayor says that the municipality «vehemently repudiates this situation that penalizes the Municipality and the citizen itself», who feels that the taxes he pays on the water bill do not correspond to the service provided, generating revolt and discomfort.
According to the Chamber of Albufeira, indignation is shown "daily through criticism published on social networks or/and formal complaints to the services".
In Portimão, the situation is the same.
«The discontent of the population is widespread and their criticism absolutely fair», says the municipality, recalling that it is a «reference municipality in the area of urban cleaning, and in particular with one of the highest recycling rates in the country».
«As unfortunately it has been verified, this selective collection has simply not worked in Portimão, being the reason for numerous complaints by residents and tourists and constituting a huge concern for the Municipality, which sees itself, on a daily basis, confronted with ecological islands to overflowing with bottles, plastics, glass and paper that are scattered along the public road, in the areas surrounding the aforementioned equipment», he adds.
Despite promises that the service would be improved, the collection “did not change for the better, on the contrary, there was a degradation in the service provided, in some areas”, accuses the Municipality, led by Isilda Gomes.
Moreover, both Portimão and Albufeira have already complained to ERSAR – Regulatory Entity for Water and Waste Services, IP, requesting an urgent adjustment of the service.
Both Municipalities are trying to find internal solutions.
In Portimão, EMARP, responsible for the collection of Undifferentiated and Organic Waste, was mandated «to reinforce, even more, the daily collection of recyclable waste that is deposited in the surroundings of the ecopoints, as well as to carry out the cleaning and washing of the places where the said equipment is installed, in order to guarantee the necessary health conditions».
This municipal company was also asked to begin negotiations with Algar so that it can hire EMARP for operational support for the activity of selective collection of recyclable packaging (paper/cardboard, plastic/metal and glass).
The municipality therefore intends that EMARP may also be responsible, in the short term, for the collection of selective waste produced/deposited in ecopoints and/or existing surroundings in its area of intervention.
In Albufeira, the Municipality of Albufeira asked Luságua – the company responsible for collecting urban waste – to make “daily efforts to minimize the situation, cleaning and collecting rubbish around recycling bins and islands”.
José Carlos Rolo reinforces that «what is happening is unacceptable in a municipality that at this time of the year receives thousands of tourists, which, naturally, results in a huge increase in the amount of waste produced, forcing ALGAR to pay greater attention to organization of circuits and the frequency of collection, to avoid situations like this that in no way dignifies the image of Albufeira and causes repudiation and discomfort among the population, as well as those who visit us».
Algar, through a contract signed with the State, has the concession for recycling bins and the management of landfills in the Algarve region until 2034.
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