"Portugal is increasingly distant from meeting the environmental targets defined by the European Union", indicates the association, which cites figures from the Portuguese Environment Agency according to which the three entities licensed to treat electrical and electronic waste collected in 2019 only 52,300 tonnes, about a third of the average of what they had treated in the previous three years.

It also states that "managing entities continue to launch new tenders with manifest irregularities and without observing compliance with legislation" in the sector.

As for the operators, they have invested "heavily in sorting, recovery and recycling facilities" which are now underused, a situation "worsened by the export [of waste] to other countries".

AEPSA stresses that Portugal incurs "serious sanctions and consequences" for not meeting the targets and that these wastes contain "highly toxic substances" which they release into the environment if not treated.