Items such as self-care needles and syringes, especially for diabetics, test strips, or catheters are involved. The creation of this system is outlined in waste legislation and is scheduled to be operational by the end of this year.
The appeal coincides with World Environmental Health Day, observed on Friday. Zero states that when mixed with urban waste, self-care waste poses a public health hazard, particularly for workers linked to urban waste collection and treatment services.
Therefore, the association adds in a statement, self-care sharp waste should not be placed with undifferentiated urban waste, which is the general practice in Portugal, “but should instead undergo selective collection and appropriate treatment separate from other urban waste.”
Zero recalls that current law mandates companies marketing these products to finance the appropriate collection and treatment efforts. They must implement by December 31, 2025, the extended producer responsibility regime and adopt necessary measures.
The legislation also sets a target for collecting 75% of the waste by December 31, 2030.
Zero notes that on the 12th, the entity responsible for waste management was established, but now the Portuguese Environment Agency must address legal aspects for system approval.
Quoting the Association of Pharmacies of Portugal, Zero estimates the consumption of these products at 250 million units per year.
September 26 as World Environmental Health Day was established by the International Federation of Environmental Health (IFEH) to raise awareness of the connection between environment, health, and human well-being.
