This is a natural process that takes place in environments absent of oxygen, such as waterlogged soils or anaerobic organic waste treatment systems. During biochemical reactions, anaerobic microorganisms, including bacteria and archaea, break down complex organic matter into simpler compounds, such as methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and organic acids. Anaerobic decomposition is an essential ecological process that helps to break down organic matter and recycle nutrients, but it can also produce harmful byproducts such as methane and hydrogen sulfide.
Published in Chapter:
Legal, Financial and Fiscal Measures to Support the Collection Solutions of Biowaste in Portugal
Fátima David (CICF-IPCA, UDI-IPG, Polytechnic of Guarda, Portugal),
Pedro Melo Rodrigues (CIQUP-IMS-DGAOT-FCUP, UDI-IPG, Polytechnic of Guarda, Portugal),
Elisabete Soares (UDI-IPG, Polytechnic of Guarda, Portugal), and
Tânia Cristina Azevedo (State University of Feira de Santana (UEFS), Brazil)
Copyright: © 2023
|Pages: 23
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-6684-8592-7.ch009
Abstract
The Portuguese Decree-Law No. 102-D/2020, of December 10 (PCM, 2020b), dictates the implementation of biowaste selective collection networks or the separation and recycling of biowaste at the source until December 31, 2023. This chapter aims to analyze the financial support provided to municipalities (local authorities) for implementing biowaste collection solutions, such as on public roads or through door-to-door collection, and to citizens for adopting biowaste separation and recycling practices through domestic or community composting. The authors also explore the application of the polluter-pays principle, which requires citizens to pay environmental taxes and fees to support sustainable development. Regarding this focus, the chapter highlights the legal, financial, and fiscal measures used to support biowaste collection and recycling efforts in Portugal, providing insight into the steps needed to achieve a sustainable environment while addressing the economic and social needs of the population.