Quarteira, Portugal, Jan. 16, 2025 (Lusa) - The rules for avoiding food waste will be debated this Friday in Quarteira, Algarve, by hotels, short-term rents, restaurants and municipalities, according to the environmentalists from Zero, who are organising a technical day on the issue.

"We hope to bring public and private organisations to the table to discuss the issue, to improve understanding to implement the efficient collection of bio-waste," Ismael Casotti, a member of Zero's board of directors, told Lusa.

The meeting mainly aims to clarify waste prevention in hotels, short-term rental properties, restaurant and catering companies, sector associations, and local authorities (municipalities).

Large companies in the hotel, restaurant, and catering sectors, which produce the most biowaste, must have a private operator to address the problem.

Normally, municipalities are responsible for collecting waste from small and medium-sized businesses.

The European Union has stipulated that some rules must be changed by 2025. For example, supermarkets will not be allowed to throw away food that is in good condition and could have been donated to institutions.

Large companies must take measures against food waste and must separate bio-waste.

The legislative changes planned for 2025 will challenge hotel and catering companies in waste management. These changes include changes to collection models and how they will be billed (new PAYT tariffs).

Zero would also like those present to "share good practices and certification tools to promote the transition to a more sustainable operating model".

FPB/ADB // ADB.

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