Statistics Portugal

Environment Statistics Unit

Avenida António José de Almeida
1000-043 Lisboa
Portugal

The national statistical institute (NSI), Statistics Portugal, works in close collaboration with the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA), using administrative data on waste for the provision and reporting of information according Waste Statistics Regulation.

Statistics Portugal uses the administrative data collected by APA via "Sistema Integrado de Registo Eletrónico de Resíduos (SIRER)" (which can be translated as Integrated System for Reporting Data on Waste).

Statistics Portugal also uses administrative data from a specific and similar system only applicable in the Autonomous Region of Azores, regarding the governmental autonomy status on environment and waste specifics statute for the region.

Between 2017 and 2018 an electronic platform came into operation for the mandatory registration of "Guias Eletrónicas de Acompanhamento de Resíduos" (waste transportation permits when waste producers\operators managing and displacing waste from places where it is generated to where is pre-treated or submitted to final treatment).

Those permits are issued and filled on an on-line platform taking place every time a displacement of wastes happens and must be held during waste transportation or the displacement is operated by the waste owner or a third one on his behalf (waste operator).

This new on-line platform, in fact consisted of a transition from an administrative procedure that was carried out on paper to a paperless procedure and bring some simplification and increases the law enforcement capacity to the administration and authorities surveillance.

The new web-based platform for issuing the permits also allow a more clear systematization of the different situations of generation and transfers of waste between producers and operators which require issuing those transportation permits to monitor the displacement of wastes between generation and final destination sites.

These new procedures on-line provided greater transparency and equity in the reporting of data by the companies since it demands and generated a broader sense that operators working aside or on the margins of the system could no longer miss any wrong registration as it would be more likely to happen based on previous method.

The data collected and used for the statistics correspond to the data reported by waste producers and waste operators (management facilities or businesses).

The data collection and reporting by waste producers and operators under the new environment provided by the eletrocnic permits procedures, is considered to be exaustive and covering all the activities and the interactions between waste generators and waste operators.

Therefore, was consensual that the administrative procedure is complete and include all waste operations and corresponds to a Census like operation.  

Therefore, Statistics Portugal adopted since 2018 (reference year) a new approach and methodology for the development and calculation of the statistic, which was also adopted for the 2020 reference year data.

It was assumed and determined there is no need to do a previous selection of a sample population of the businesses covered by the WStatReg.

The data collected by APA was cross checked with the businesses population register that Statistics Portugal have for the production of different statistics on economy activity, which is a census register of all statistical units (businesses) that are active and operating in the country.

Although this new system which is a powerful database for APA to collect and validate data, during a transitional period the waste generators and waste operators still needed to complete and report data through the traditional system on Mapa Integrado de Registo de Resíduos (Integrated Waste Register Forms).

In the medium term the waste generators will no longer have the obligation to report the data through the traditional forms used on the end of the year. It is expected that in the mid term the compilation of the data will be done automatically and by the end of each year the waste generators\producers will receive a report of the system which they only have to validate\confirm and eventually do corrections if appropriate.

Regarding APA also collect data on the waste received by the waste operators (waste handlers that disposed off or do recovery operations), such administrative data was merged and integrated with the data reported by waste producers in order to increase the response rates (by including data from businesses which are not obliged by law to report and filling in data in the traditional webforms applicable to waste producers).

The integration of data reported by waste producers with data reported by waste operators required validation rules and deeper analysis to eliminate duplications and avoid double counting resulting from the merging of 2 different reporting scopes and webform entry data tools (waste reported by waste producers : amounts produced and hand out to waste operators) + (waste reported by waste operators : amounts of waste received by origin (producers) and treated by operations).

Table : Institutions involved in the collection of data and distribution of tasks

Data set 1: waste generation by waste category (EWC-Stat) and economic activities (NACE)

General description of methodology

The sources are the businesses (18 NACE groupings) and households which generate waste. The waste types are the 51 waste categories for which data is required under the Waste Statistics Regulation.

The dataset 1 (columns 1 to 18) and dataset 2 are based on administrative data collected according national legislation that rule Sistema Integrado de Registo Electrónico de Resíduos (National Waste Register) which support the reporting of waste generation by waste producers (by local units) and waste management by waste management operators (by local units) identified according the following criteria:

a) All businesses and individuals running local units (establishments) with 10 or more employees which generate non municipal waste;

b) All businesses and individuals responsible for local units which generate hazardous waste;

c) All businesses and individuals performing waste management operations as their economic activity;

d) All businesses and individuals performing waste collection and transportation as their economic activity;

e) All businesses responsible for municipal waste management systems;

f) All businesses responsible for separate systems for the management of specific waste streams

g) All businesses and individuals which participate on waste markets whether as traders or brokers;

h) All businesses which produce and/or place on markets specific products that require registration according the legislation on specific waste streams like packaging, used tires, mineral lubricants, end of life vehicles, batteries and accumulators, electrical and electronic equipment, etc

In column 19 (households) the data correspond to the quantities of municipal waste collected by municipal services and multimunicipal services for selective collection. Include households waste and fractions of similar municipal waste (non household generation) from industry, commerce and services which share the municipal waste collection system.

Although the data reported by waste producers is provided by local units, the matching of data (administrative data with NSI statistical units register) is done at the enterprise level.

Given there is no way to have a single code to identify the local units is impossible to do the matching of data at local units level.

To cross both datafiles and do the matching (administrative data on waste and statistical units register) is done at entreprise units level (given both datasets have the business id code and use such to identify enterprises units).

Although the amounts of waste are accounted and available by local units the statistical office have no way to run an automatic crossing of the databases and do the calculation at local units level.

Therefore the scope of the statistics and respective statistical units for the calculation of results are based on the main characteristics (economic activity) at the business level.

For details on the scope of the statistics and representativeness of data according number of businesses, the turnover and employment on each group of economic activity (and institutional sector, and business dimension) see annex I.

Determination of waste generation by (sample) survey

This table shows the proportion of waste generation covered by indirect calculation on the basis of waste treatment and how the method is applied.

Row 1 indicates what proportion of waste generation is covered by information concerning waste treatment. This can be done by referring to selected parts of the economy or to selected waste streams. This should be consistent with the table in the concept 3.1.2.

Row 2 identifies the number of waste treatment facilities included in the calculation. The numbers are expected to be equal to the number of facilities in the table in the concept 3.1.8 . Any differences should be explained.

Rows 3 to 4.3 provide a more detailed description of the methods applied. Does the original data set contain quantities of waste classified by the List of waste, by the European waste Classification for Statistics (EWC-Stat) or by a national classification? On what basis is waste which has been treated transformed into waste which has been generated? How are non-specific wastes distributed across sources and how are imported wastes excluded?

The data on quantities treated are based on the information reported by the waste producers and waste operators as described above.

The data reported by waste producers and/or waste operators include an item declaring the waste management operation the waste is submitted to (R or D codes).

The amounts of waste on dataset 1 (GENeration) and dataset 2 (management operation or TREAtment applied) do not match because a significant number of businesses identified as final treatment or end of cycle of waste management some of the R and D codes which are not covered (to be reported) by the WSR (namely: D8; D9; D11; D12; D13; D14; D15; R12 and R13).

The data on backfilling operation include data reported under R10 code and the LoW code of the  waste correspond to 101103, 150107, 170101, 170102, 170103, 170107, 170202, 170504, 191205, 200102, 200202.

The data on waste treatment facilities is based on data from the administrative register managed by APA on the licenses/permits issued to waste management operators. Lack of information on capacities of instalations.

The amount of waste generated is calculated from waste producers and not on the basis of information on waste treatment operators. 

Estimation of waste generation in the economy on the basis of models or other methods 

This table is similar to the table in the concept 3.1.4 in that it shows the proportion of waste generation covered by other methods and how these methods are applied. Within this table, a distinction is made between methods based on modelling and other methods.

This table focuses on the methods applied in order to estimate the amount of waste generated by households. The various methods are identified in different parts of the table. An important distinction is made between waste generated by households, on the one hand, and waste generated by businesses, i.e. ‘commercial contamination’, on the other.

The total amount of waste generated from municipalities is considered as waste genereated by households. 

Determination of treated waste quantities 

This table identifies the number of waste treatment facilities, which are included in or excluded from the compilation of data. There can be several reasons for excluding waste treatment operations: because they treat only internal waste, because they are pre-treatment facilities or because the capacity is below a nationally defined threshold, etc.

There are no reasons for exclusion. The number of facilities included are the same as transmitted in file FAC 2024_v07m01_PT_jan2025.xlsm.

This table gives details of the registers used to gather information on waste treatment. 

Economic Activities: Classification NACE 2.0 equivalent to national classification CAE Rev.3 on economic activities.

National classification has a fifth level of kind of activities and up to fourth digit level is completely equivalente or compatible with NACE 2.0.

Waste: Data on collection is classified according the classification List of Waste (LoW). Afterwards is reclassified according EWCStat categories regarding the transposition table provided in the Waste Statistics Regulation.

Waste management operations: Data is classified according the Recovery (R) and Disposal (D) operations as described on Annexes I and II on Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/CE.

See Annex I and Annex II for this Quality Report describing the businesses population and administrative replies by kind of activities and employment size classes.

Waste: As described on waste statistics regulation.

The data is collected according local units.

However the statistical procedures and calculations are done at business level (statistical units = enterprises).

All statistical units included as active businesses on the Statistical Units Register and corresponding units with the data reported by waste producers and waste operators on the administrative database managed by the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) in what relates to waste management  operations.

Entire country.

Include data for Portugal Mainland and Autonomous Regions (Islands) of Azores and Madeira.

Year 2022

Not applicable.

Ton

2022

The activity of Statistics Portugal is ruled by the following legislation:

Law nº 22/2008, (Official Journal (OJ) no 92 1st Series, of 13th May 2008) - Law of the National Statistical System: It defines the general basis of the National Statistical System.

The National Statistical System (NSS) includes the Statistical Council, the State body that superintends and coordinates the system; the National Statistical Institute, IP (hereinafter referred to as Statistics Portugal), the central body responsible for the production and dissemination of official statistics, that ensures the supervision and the technical and scientific coordination of the NSS; the Bank of Portugal that, as part of its mission, is responsible for the collection and compilation of monetary, financial, foreign exchange and balance of payments statistics; the Regional Services of Statistics of the Autonomous Regions of Açores and Madeira that act as delegations of the Statistics Portugal in relation to nationwide statistics as statistical authorities in what concerns regional statistics; and other entities producing official statistics by delegation of Statistics Portugal.

Statistics Portugal, Bank of Portugal, Regional Services of Statistics of the Autonomous Regions of Açores and Madeira and entities producing official statistics by delegation of Statistics Portugal are considered statistical authorities, having responsibility for the production of official statistics, and empowered to require (mandatory and gratuitously) to all departments or agencies, individuals and legal entities, information necessary for the production of official statistics.

Statistics Portugal is a public institute with a special regime integrating the indirect State administration, endowed with administrative autonomy. Its mission is to produce and disseminate, in an effective, efficient and independent manner, high-quality official statistical information relevant for society as a whole.

In the exercise of official statistical activities, Statistics Portugal enjoys technical independence and may, in its capacity as national statistical authority, require information to be reported, which shall be mandatory and free of charge, safeguarding respect for statistical confidentiality, according the National Statistical System Law.

• Ordinance No. 423/2012 of 28 December amended by Ordinance No. 120/2014 and by Ordinance No. 68/2019 – Approval of the Statutory Laws of Statistics Portugal, defining its internal organization.

The official statistics are produced with technical independence and considered as public good, observing the national and international quality standards, and meeting the users' needs in an efficient manner, preventing the providers of information to the statistical authorities from an excessive burden, by using increasingly the administrative data.

All personal data collected by the statistical authorities for statistical purposes, are considered confidential, and legally protected. All people connected with the production of official statistics are obliged to professional secrecy. To break confidentiality is considered a very serious administrative offence that implies criminal responsibility.

The data protection officer of Statistics Portugal is responsible for the coordination of matters concerning personal data.

The Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 lays down rules relating to the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and rules relating to the free movement of personal data. 

Corrigendum to Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation).

Law nº 58/2019 of 8th August – law on personal data protection ensures the implementation, in the national legal order, of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to processing of personal data and the free movement of such data.

The Statistical Confidentiality Policy of Statistics Portugal stems from the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic, from Law no. 22/2008, of 13 May, which establishes the principles, rules and structure of the National Statistical System and in particular the Principle of Statistical Confidentiality(Article 6), from the Regulation (EC) 223/2009 of 11 March (article 20 and following), amended by Regulation 2015/759 of 29 April, establishing the legal framework for the development, production and dissemination of European Statistics, and Regulation (EU) 557/2013 of 17 June concerning access to confidential data for scientific purposes.

It is also governed by the principles agreed among EU Member States and enshrined in the European Statistics Code of Practice (2nd revision/2017), namely principle 5 on Statistical Confidentiality and, more broadly, by the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics, established by the United Nations Statistical Commission in 1994 and endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly in January 2014 (principle 6).

Regarding the processing of personal data, the exercise of statistical activity also complies with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the Parliament and of the Council of 27 April, which lays down the rules on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data and other legislation applicable in this area.

According to the coverage of the statistical units population, and the dissemination of data aggregates by economic activity the release of data for 2022 have no restrictions.

In order to ensure confidentiality of information and the privacy of data providers, the information security requirements are revisited, reconsidered and documented in each new operation.

The information security requirements are set out in the Information Security Policy and are broken down into policies and procedures that are divided, as to the nature of the aspects they  aim to protect, into physical security measures (barriers that limit direct contact or access to information or to the infrastructure that supports it) and logical security measures (barriers that are based on the architecture defined for the technological infrastructure and which prevent and limit access to data).

To protect the individual data of a person, these practices and measures also make it possible to meet the requirements arising from the legal rules governing the protection of personal  data and the defence of privacy, namely the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic and the General Data Protection Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2016/679, of 27 April) and other legislation  applicable in this area.

The statistical process is divided into design, collection, processing, analysis and dissemination phases. The handling of individual information follow these phases for the 

preparation of micro-data and the calculation of aggregate data. In all phases of the statistical production process, individual data is accessed according to the need to-know basis, through privileges and access control as established in the SGSI.

The design phases are characterised, namely, by the definition of the context of the statistical operation, the reason for carrying it out and the legal grounds, the list of available sources, the type of statistical operation and units to be surveyed, the planning of human resources, funding, IT and methodological requirements, the development of the collection media and  the configuration of flows in order to ensure data security and information confidentiality.

Additionally, and in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation, in the case of statistical operations involving personal data that are likely to entail a high risk to the rights and freedoms of natural persons, a specific analysis called Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) is conducted at the design specification stage (Phase 3) of the respective operation.

At the collection stage, the protection of confidentiality of individual data collected directly (primary information) from information providers through surveys is defined according to the different collection modes (electronic, face-to-face, telephone, postal, or combination of methods).

The information providers are informed in advance of the aspects determining the survey's implementation, namely the exclusively statistical purpose of the data collected and the confidential nature of the information provided. Statistics Portugal also makes available, through its service oriented to the electronic data collection additional information on each of the surveys, as well as a set of frequently asked questions (companies and individuals and households), which allow more detailed explanations to be obtained.

The electronic transmission of data from other sources (indirect collection) is carried out in such a way as to ensure the confidentiality, integrity and availability of the information, through the selection of the most secure mechanisms in relation to the process agreed upon with the external sources, namely: Statistics Portugal's private cloud, dedicated circuits, secure network protocols, use of Virtual Private Network (VPN).

In the processing and analysis phases, data are processed in order to obtain new variables and units (from aggregation and other estimation methods) and thus calculate statistical aggregates  and proceed to the final tabulation of results for dissemination.

The most appropriate statistical disclosure control methods are applied to each statistical operation, consisting of the analysis and modification/disruption of the original data in order to eliminate the possibility of direct identification or to minimise the identification or indirect identification of the data subjects, without involving disproportionate effort and costs.

With regard to the processing of data obtained from administrative, or other, sources, the treatment of data confidentiality follows the process described above.

The indicators for waste from industry (MIRR) are usually scheduled for release from the second to the last week of november n+1.

The indicators from household municipal waste (MRRU) are usually scheduled for release from the second week of september to the first week of november n+1.

The anual report in pdf format is scheduled for release on the third week of december and a shorter summary is also published soon afterwards, also in december.

The calender access is available on the website of Statistics Portugal.

Statistics Portugal follows a release policy that is impartial and simultaneous to all public users. Any previleged access is publicized in advance.

Every two years report to Eurostat and every year at Statistics Portugal Portal.

Generally, the data is disclosed and published through an annual publication on Environment Statistics. A short press release is also disclosed along with the publication.

PDF file of Environment Statistics regular and annual publication and also the main indicators on NSI web portal.

Indicators

• Table crossing waste type (EWCStat) and economic activities
• Table crossing waste type (EWCStat) and waste treatment operations (R and D codes aggregates)
• Table crossing economic activities and waste treatment operations (R and D codes aggregates)
• Urban waste collected (t) by Geographic localization (NUTS - 2013) and Type of collection
• Urban waste management (t) by Geographic localization (NUTS - 2013) and Kind of destination (waste);

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Indicators

• Sectorial waste produced (t) by Type of waste (EWC-stat) and Economic activity (CAE Rev. 3); Annual
• Sectorial waste produced (t) by Type of waste (EWC-stat) and Type of waste management operation; Annual
• Sectorial waste produced (t) by Economic activity (CAE Rev. 3) and Type of waste management operation; Annual

Not available.

The document on methodology for waste from households in portuguese is included in attachment. The document on methodology for waste from industry is currently under revision, see Annex I for a revised version.

Not available.

See attachment.

The activity of Statistics Portugal is guided by its mission, vision and values, which are publicly disclosed and in which quality is a central aspect.

In the national and European legislative framework, quality in statistics is defined by Law no. 22/2008, article 7, and by Regulation (EC) no. 223/2009 (amended by Regulation no. 2015/759), respectively. As part of the European Statistical System, Statistics Portugal has adopted the European Statistics Code of Practice as a reference for its work since its first edition (2005). The Code of Practice includes the Quality Declaration of the European Statistical System, 16 principles that are broken down into a set of 84 indicators of good practice, which define the European benchmarks in statistical activity, for the institutional framework, for the production processes and for the statistical information itself. Although all the principles are important, the commitment to Quality stands out:

Principle 4 - Commitment to Quality

“Statistical authorities make a commitment to quality and systematically and regularly identify strengths and weaknesses in order to continuously improve the quality of statistical procedures and production.”

The implementation of the Code of Practice in the Member States can be assisted by the Quality Assurance Framework (QAF) document, which recommends possible actions to be implemented at institutional and process level for each indicator of the respective Code.

As part of its mission and in line with the European Statistics Code of Practice, Statistics Portugal carries out its activity based on solid methodologies, appropriate procedures, following international best practices, and extensive documentation of concepts and classifications, included in its Metadata System. Statistics Portugal produces and disseminates statistics impartially, objectively and transparently, treating all users equally, in accordance with its Dissemination Policy. All these aspects contribute to the soundness of statistics and the perceived quality of the institution. Communication on the part of Statistics Portugal is also essential in order to convey confidence in statistics to users.

The commitment to quality must be unequivocal and constant in the management of the relationship with users and information providers, who understand the quality of the statistics produced, the services and products, the technicians and the overall image of the institution, now and in the future. With this in mind, Statistics Portugal's Quality Charter was drawn up, which sets out Statistics Portugal's public commitments with regard to:

• Information security;
• Relations with information providers;
• Relations with users;
• Review of released statistical data;
• Dissemination of statistical information;
• Availability of publications and other information dissemination products;
• Responding to requests for statistical information;
• Welcoming and serving the public;
• Managing suggestions and complaints;
• Evaluation of satisfaction levels;
• Management of human resources;
• Cooperation with external entities.

Statistics Portugal's activity is also framed by the General Guidelines for Official Statistical Activity, which include the strategic objectives and respective lines of action of the National Statistical System, in which aspects related to quality are highlighted.

In establishing the quality management system, Statistics Portugal's Administration Board assumes this policy and the commitments set out in it, follows the principles of the ISO 9001 Standard and complies with its requirements, adopting a systematic approach and managing processes according to the PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) cycle (continuous improvement).

This system comprises a set of instruments, methods and activities which, as described in its reference documents, cover process documentation, performance evaluation and relations with users. These are: internal and external audits, in which we highlight the Peer Review exercises (in an approach similar to that of an external audit); management and performance indicators and instruments, in which we highlight Statistics Portugal's Assessment and Accountability Framework (QUAR), integrated into the Public Administration's Performance Management and Assessment System (SIADAP), including a specific set of quality assessment indicators; satisfaction surveys of information providers and users in relation to the various services provided by Statistics Portugal (in accordance with the principles of ISO Standard 10004); compliments, suggestions and complaints management system (in accordance with the principles of ISO Standard 10002); documentation system (examples: methodological documents available in the Metadata System, quality reports on statistical operations, as well as internal policies and procedures). In terms of Quality Reports, Statistics Portugal reports to Eurostat in accordance with the European Standard format - European Statistical System (ESS) handbook for quality and metadata reports. Some quality reports are available by operation on the Eurostat website by statistical domain.

Other documents guiding the quality policy:

• Information Security Policy;
• Policy of Statistical Confidentiality;
• Policy on Privacy and Data Protection;
• Dissemination Policy;
• Revisions Policy;
• Code of Ethics and Conduct;
• Risk Management Plan for Corruption and Related Offenses and respective reports;
• Statistical production process manual.

Not available.

Not available.

See 12.3.2 and 12.3.3.

Not available.

The dataset 1 (columns 1 to 18) and dataset 2 are based on administrative data collected according national legislation which regulate the Sistema Integrado de Registo Electrónico de Resíduos (Waste Register for Portugal Mainland and Autonomous region of Madeira) and Sistema Regional de Informação sobre Resíduos (Waste Register for Autonomous Region of Azores). Those 2 internet based systems collect data via webforms on waste generation by waste producers (local units) and waste management by waste management handlers/operators (local units) on a scope identified according the following criteria:

a) All businesses and individuals running local units (establishments) with 10 or more employees and which generate non municipal waste;

b) All businesses and individuals responsible for local units which generate hazardous waste;

c) All businesses and individuals performing waste management operations as their economic activity;

d) All businesses and individuals performing waste collection and transportation as their economic activity;

e) All businesses responsible for municipal waste management systems;

f) All businesses responsible for separate systems for the management of specific waste streams (packaging, batteries and accumulators, end-of-life vehicles, used oils, car tires, EEE).

g) All businesses and individuals which participate on waste markets whether as traders or brokers;

h) All businesses which produce and/or place on markets specific products that require registration according the legislation on specific waste streams like packaging, used tires, mineral lubricants, end of life vehicles, batteries and accumulators, electrical and electronic equipment, etc

The column 19 (households): data correspond to the quantities of municipal waste collected by municipal services. Include households waste and fraction of similar municipal waste (non household generation) from industry, commerce and services which share the municipal waste collection.

Although the data reported by waste producers and waste operators is provided at the local unit level it's impossible (within a reasonable time period and amount of work) to do the matching with the local units register available at the statistical office. There's no single code to identify in a clearly and univocal way the local units reported and recorded by both databases files. Regarding this is impossible to determine the scope of the sample frame according local units population.

In order to allow the link between the data collected by APA at local units level and the business register of the statistical office, the scope of the statistics and respective statistical units for sampling/stratification and calculate estimations has to be done at business level (enterprises). At the business level is easy and fast to do the matching regarding we have a unique business code which exists in both databases.

See Annex I and Annex II to find out on the scope of the statistical units covered and representativeness of data according the number of businesses, the turnover and the employment of the population of businesses covered.

No sampling methods adopted.

See the table Total and coefficients of variation for the key aggregates in the annex.

Not applicable.

According the legal frame of the administrative Registers (databases) on waste managed by the Portuguese Environment Agency (SIRER system to Portugal mainland and Autonomous Regiona of Madeira) and the Regional Directorate on Environment  for the Autonomous Region of Azores (SRIR system), a significant number of businesses are not obliged to report data on both registers.

Specially businesses belonging to the commerce and services sectors, given the fact that in general don't generate industrial and hazardous waste and usually share the regular and common public collection of waste by municipal services.

Considering that the administrative procedure reached a level of maturity which was improved by the entry into force of the electronic (web based system) emission of waste transportation and displacement permits, is assumed that the reporting on data is likely to be exaustive covering the entire operations on waste generation and management in the country.

The emission of administrative licenses to the transportation of waste displacement from a paper version to an electronic version based on the web (e-GAR) is also envisioned to replace the data reporting requests and alliviate the waste producers on report the administrative data via the traditional forms in use.

The data from small businesses (below 10 entrepreneurs) are included if they are obliged to comply by the rules established in MIRR - Mapa Integrado de Registo de Resíduos (national law Decreto-Lei n.º 102-D/2020, de 10 de dezembro de 2020, and n.º 1 of Article 98 of the new General Regime for Waste Management (Regime Geral de Gestão de Resíduos (RGGR))). This depends on their economic activity, the natureza of waste produced, their quantity, classification and type of treatment that the waste is subjected to and if they utilize the services of operators in the private sector to manage their waste. For example, if a business produces hazardous waste, or if the quantity is greater than 1100 litres/day pre business unit, irrespective if they employ less than 10 employees, they have to report via forms in MIRR. If the waste a business produces is non-hazardous and less that 1100 litres/day per business unit, this waste will be accounted for in the municipality waste, included in household waste. It is currently not possible to estimate how much waste comes from commercial enterprises/shops included in household waste or to determine the amount of pure household waste.

Not available.

See coverage of administrative data on annex II.

* for the needs of the GENER dataset (occurring in the administrative system / participating in the statistical survey)

In accordance with the General Regime for Waste Management (Regime Geral de Gestão de Resíduos (RGGR), the waste resulting from the prospecting, extraction, treatment and storage of mineral resources, as well as the exploitation of mineral masses, with the exception of waste generated in processing units, not defined as exploration attachments under the terms of paragraph d) of article 2 54/2015, of June 22 are exempted from reporting.

See table in the concept 3.1.8.

The raw data is analyzed and validated according a time series perspective and a coherence perspective.

Regarding the years of data available all the replies for wastes quantities above 50000 tonnes were analyzed and checkd case-by-case about the trend on amounts reported to evaluate eventual errors on waste quantities reported considering the measurement unit. Although not common a significant number of replies over time are different due to the problem of the quantities reported according a measurement unit which is different from the unit in which the quantities are to be reported (tons). Data providers some times fill in amounts that were measured or accounted in all sort of unit but tons. Like number of units of batteries, liters or cubic meters of used oils, etc.

The cases highlighted by the validation specifications below were returned to the businesses for confirmation/validation.

Time-series: The data is validated considering aggregates by economic sector (stratification level). When totals increase or decreased by more than 30% regarding the totals in previous year is looked for the partials or individual responses generating such trend on the totals.

Coherence: The information is validated also according the internal coherence of the data reported. For the aggregates by economic sectors (stratification) and kind of waste (LoW 4 digits) is calculated the mean and standard deviation. The replies which quantities corresponds to more than or less than 2,5 times the standard deviation are highlighted and selected for analyses and data confirmation/validation.  

The statistic reported is based on all the information reported by waste producer and waste operators according the national legal reporting obligations of those two main entities in what relates to the waste management and data flows on the subject. Considering the long experience and background of APA on the data collection on MIRR (Integrated Waste Registration Map) along with the entry into force of e-GAR and the deeper sense of exhaustiveness the statistic brings together the characteristics of a census like operation to assess the evaluation of volumes of waste management in the country.

Not available.

Not available.

The statistics calculated and reported under the WStatR reporting framework are based on the administrative data as described within the quality report.

These statistics are calculated as an independent exercise and based on data sources different from other basic data and specific sources adopted for other reporting obligations on the specific waste streams like for instance end-of-life vehicles, packaging, batteries and accumulators, WEEE, etc, which is done by the specific waste management entities supervising the specific waste collection systems. Although is not expected significant deviations of coverage and results on data is possible to exist differences in some extent given it is 2 different and independ reports (specific waste streams management entities systems vs. waste producers and waste handling operators). 

So the comparison of those results and the ones from the specific waste streams must be done with some reservations nonetheless the exaustive condition of the data included in the statitics.

Statistics Portugal followed the EUROSTAT recomendation on reporting ELV Directive data on the WStatR on the column corresponding to the "commerce and services" sector (by june 30 of 2022, this data was still not available is foreseen an update of data before the end of 2022).

The statistics reported include:

i)  partially of waste imported: flows of secondary waste from waste imported is partially included when occurring transfers of secondary waste flows between different waste operators.

ii) Due to the statistical procedure of data integration and matching of APA datafiles with Statistical Units Register and also the fact the APA databases on waste (data reported by producers and waste operators) the data have records of waste exported directly by national waste producers to be treated abroad by foreign waste operators and have records of waste received (exported by producers abroad) "imported" by national waste operators, such data is assessed and used according:

• on what respects the data reported by waste producers and operators on amounts of waste sended (exported) abroad to R/D and operations by foreign waste operators is included in the statistics to the extent that the export of waste is done directly by the waste producer. 
• the waste reported by waste operators on amounts of waste received (imported) from abroad from producers that send the waste to R/D operations by the national operators was dismissed and ignored, except for the secondary waste resulting from the treatment of such imported waste and when those secondary waste is transfered between different national waste operators for furher treatment or processing.
• was also included the secondary waste (190805) resulting from waste imported by 2 operators specialized on handling hazardous waste which was landfilled by those national operators. 

The raw data available for the statistics result from the combination and merging of 2 different data sources which, although complementing each other, are reported by 2 different agents acting as waste generation (waste producers) and waste management (waste operators\handlers).

The data reported by the waste management operators tend to be more accurate and precise than the waste producers given the fact that, in general, have better means to account and measure the waste quantities and perform or track the final destination of waste.

The main concern was to avoid double counting regarding there's a significant number of businesses which report data as waste producers and are also identified as waste origins or sources of waste on the data reported by the waste management operators, which identify the sources of volumes of waste they receive for handling and management.

Therefore was put in place a coherence analysis and queries to identifiy the data reported on both sides in order to perform validation and also list cases of duplicates before integration of data. The integration of data was done according the following priorities:

i) consider primarily the data from waste producers;

ii) integrate de data reported by waste operators from producers which do not reply or fill in the form for waste producers (identified by business code missing on the side of waste producers);

iii) for cases of waste reported on both sides (reported by waste producers and identified as waste origin on data reported by waste operators) identified by the key code (business code, LoW code, operation code (3 digits)) and quantities was done as following:

iii (a) where key code are equal and quantities equal: ok one of the records was consider;

iii (b) where key code are equal and quantities different: was considered the lowest quantity whether reported by waste producer or by waste operator;

iii (c) where key code are equal (except last 2 digits of operation code) and quantities equal: was considered the data (operation code) reported by waste operator;

Short timetable on the main phases for the data collection on waste:

n = reference year

(1) First quarter of n+1 (months of january, february and march): data collection through internet forms and databases;

(2) Second quarter of n+1 (months of april, may and june): data assessment and validation according procedures coordinated with APA; e-mailing to specific businesses with cases highlighted or scanned according validation rules, consequent verification and/or correction of data by respondents. Evaluation of times series inconsistencies on replies.

(3) Third quarter of n+1 (months of july, august and september): methodological treatment of data; evaluation of reply rates, calculation of estimation coefficients, imputation of non replies, validation of global results according EUROSTAT validation recommendations and orientations {Doc. WASTE WG 3.2(2014) Validation of Waste Statistics - the way forward - Meeting 8 and 9 april 2014); additional verifications/corrections according eventual situations or cases highlighted from this last validation scans.

(4) Last quarter of n+1 (month october, november and december): data assessment and preparation for disclosure on standard tables in traditional paper publication formats (PDF) and indicators database tables available on website. 

(5) Second quarter of n+2 (month january, february and march): re-assessemnt of data quality, detection of eventual situations of incoherence not detected before. Preparation to report to EUROSTAT.

Time schedule of the whole process:

Development of sampling strategy: not applicable   

Development and testing of questionnaires: not applicable         

Selection of enterprises and sending out of questionnaires: Data collection based on website (waste producers and waste operators must report data on sectoral waste (MIRR) from january to march n+1

Data processing (editing and imputation): april to september n+1       

Data analysis and validation: An initial analysis and validation is carried out from april to may n +1. The files are returned to APA and a second validation is carried out from september to november n+1

Key publication activities:  December n+1

12 months

Explanation for any delay in data transmission and measures taken to avoid delays in future:

Given some problems on the availability of data about ELV provided by the specific PRO, it was impossible to add data on such specific waste stream in due time. 

4 to 6 weeks

Description of classifications used

Not available.

The last time series break was for reference year 2018.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

No data available.

No data available.

The 2022 data was calculated using the simplified method implemented for the first time for the 2018 reference data exercise.

In summary, the administrative data collected by APA (Portuguese Environment Agency), which is considered to be exhaustive due to the legal procedures in place with respect to the waste management and waste monitoring tools by the autorities, and the computer databases supporting and working as administrative data registers are cross-checked and validated.

The database associated with the registration and control of electronic waste monitoring guides together with the recording of data by waste management operators allows considering the scope of comprehensive and exhaustive information on waste generation and destination operations.
Information on waste exported by waste management operators is supported on a report form different from those being considered in the current statistics.
However, given the complexity and double registration of data that exists in the forms completed only by waste management operators, it will be necessary to study and implement a methodology for analysis and double counting on them.
Because in the reporting model applied specifically to waste operators we have:
(a) A form where waste management operators record the waste entries they receive for treatment and operation, including waste from other waste management operators (current data form that we are currently using and that we cross-referenced with the information of outputs of waste producers to eliminate or minimize double counting and limit any overestimation of statistics that could occur if it were not for this analysis);

(b) We also have data resulting from another reporting form that concerns only the recording of waste outputs from these waste management operators who send waste to other waste management operators for final operation or even a second intermediate treatment operation , herein meaning residues corresponding to a secondary flow. These data are already being considered in the current statistics regarding the "outputs" of waste for operators in the national territory.
We have that a given operator A who sends waste to an operator B, registers this waste shipment in this Output form.
On the other hand, the operator B that receives the residues coming from A, must fill in a mirror record in inputs (form referred to in (a)) corresponding to those residues that A reported in outputs.

Given this particularity, this specific form of outputs for waste management operators, is like a form equivalent to the one that waste producers in general fill out and that, as described, we have to trace the mirror records or redundancies between producer outputs and operator inputs. .

Given this similarity and equivalence between data reporting forms, in this case too we will have to adopt a complex analysis to eliminate or minimize redundancies and limit possible overestimation of the resulting statistic.

We can limit the information to be extracted from this third data source form on waste outputs from management operators, only to cases of sending to operators outside the national territory. This information has been available since 2016 and this double counting assessment study between the 2 forms is ongoing. 

Regarding a dominance analysis, an imputation method was adopted to complement and complete data in case a dominant business is missing in the dataset.

Data that is revised and published are referenced by a footnote on the indicator's database.

Not applicable.

See the concept 3.1.1 above.

Every year.

See below.

Data is collected between january and march of year n+1.

The data is collected through webforms displayed and availablle for authorized users (businesses) after registration on the website SILiamb managed by the Environment Agency (Portugal mainland and Madeira region) and SRIR system managed by the (Autonomou Region of Azores, Regional Directorate on Environment).

APA and the Azores Regiional Directorate on Environment are the owners and responsible for the administration of the respective websites and all the registration and controlling procedures to collect data on the different businesses involved on waste generation (with obligations to report) and\or waste management businesses (waste installations for the management of specific streams of waste, municipal waste, industrial waste, agriculture waste, health care and hospital wastes, etc.).

The data is validated on a time series perspective but also in a logical and coherence perspective regarding the characteristics and condition of each waste reported by waste producers and management operators.

Time-series rules perspective:

For the aggregates by economic sector that increase or decreased by more than 30% are submitted to thourough analysis of the partials responsible for such evolution.

All the registers where is mentioned quantities of more than 50000 tons of waste generated or handed over to waste management operators the data is classified for confirmation and verification by the respondents.

Coherence/logical rules perspective:

In cases and situations as the ones listed in Annex III and Annex V.

This section is about collecting data on capacity of treatment facilities.

Not applicable.

The data is collected on dry matter.

See Annex III

Not applicable.

The data collected by APA is intended to fulfil administrative obligations, namely about the activities of waste operators in waste treatment.

Since the data is for statistical purposes, the Statistical Institute, in cooperation with the environmental agency, has agreed to use this data for statistical purposes since the APA began collecting data online in 2007.

In collaboration with the APA, meetings are held annually and there is regular communication via e-mail or telephone between teams to exchange information and work together in validating data and in evaluating and gauging data coverage. As well as in the technical monitoring of improvements that have been introduced in the methodology and in particular, the modifications and alterations with the entry into operation of the electronic waste monitoring guide (e-GAR) to which we have already referred.

Although the current methodology is simpler, the scope and scope of the information currently used is broader in relation to data prior to 2018. The consolidation of the APA's experience in collecting and validating data in collaboration with statistics is now more consistent and accurate.

The new condition of data collection reinforced and extended with the entry into force of the e-GAR provides greater proximity and precision of the data reported by both waste operators and waste producers.

Since e-GAR was implemented it has improved the flow of data and the validations and confirmation practices inherent in the procedure. It also contributes to a more accurate and comprehensive coverage of waste management operations.

The issuance of e-GARs through electronic forms on the internet is done in real time and more accurate than the previous system based on paper forms and many more permissive to failures or errors. Although they were also a means of compiling data by producers and operators for the formal annual report instituted through the Integrated Waste Registration Map (MIRR).