Algar

What Algar does

Algar, Valorização e Tratamento de Resíduos Sólidos S.A. is a multi-municipal waste management concessionaire incorporated in Portugal on 20 May 1995 under Decree-Law No. 109/95. It operates as the exclusive concessionaire for integrated urban waste management across all 16 municipalities of the Algarve region, serving approximately 481,000 residents and 4,997 km². The company is a subsidiary of EGF — Empresa Geral do Fomento, S.A., which itself sits within the Mota-Engil Group, Portugal's largest infrastructure conglomerate. Algar is audited by Pricewaterhousecoopers & Associados, Lda.

The company operates 32 facilities comprising 2 landfills, 8 transfer stations, 12 ecocentres, 3 energy recovery plants, 3 green waste composting stations, 1 mechanical treatment plant, 1 mechanical and biological treatment (MBT) plant, and 2 sorting plants, supported by 3,900+ ecopontos (12,800 containers) across the region. Its technology stack combines mechanical sorting, biological treatment, biogas capture, and energy recovery. In 2024, the company deployed AI-powered robotic sorting arms and an AI-based ecoponto placement tool (co-developed with startup NILG.AI), and in 2025 launched a mobile app for the Linha da Reciclagem citizen service. Production outputs in 2025 included 732,000 tonnes of selectively collected and recovered materials, 145,000 tonnes of biowaste valorized (14% growth), 501 GWh of electricity produced (461 GWh exported to the national grid), and 32,000 tonnes of organic compost under the Nutriverde and NUTRITERRA brands.

Revenue is generated through three streams: (1) long-term municipal concession fees from 16 Algarve municipalities under multi-year contracts; (2) transaction-based waste treatment and disposal fees from municipalities and private entities (recyclables accepted free); and (3) product sales of exported electricity, recycled materials (paper, plastic, metal, glass), and organic compost (Nutriverde, Nutriverde Premium, Nutriverde Decor, NUTRITERRA). Tier-priced municipal rates and public 2026 tariff schedules are published. The company is ISO 9001/14001/45001 certified, and Nutriverde received the EU Ecolabel in 2026. The board is chaired by Miguel Santiago Aranda da Silva for the 2024–2026 triennium.

Name

Algar

Legal name

Algar, Valorização e Tratamento de Resíduos Sólidos S.A.

Website

https://algar.com.pt

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Algar is a multi-municipal waste management concessionaire serving all 16 municipalities of Portugal's Algarve region (~481,000 inhabitants), operating integrated collection, treatment, energy recovery, and recycling infrastructure for B2G contracts and citizen services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Waste Management Services

NAICS

Waste Collection (56211), Compost Manufacturing (325315)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953), Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991)

akta.pro primary industry

Anaerobic Digestion (Wet/Dry AD) & Biogas Production (EUAIAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Anaerobic Digestion (AD) Biogas Plants (Agricultural, Industrial & Municipal) (EUAAAEAA), Anaerobic Digestion Biogas Power (Agricultural & Industrial AD) (EUACAIAD), Compost Product Distribution, Retail & Landscape Supply (Bulk/Bagged) (BPALAEAI)

Keywords

• Waste management services
• Municipal waste collection
• Biogas energy recovery
• Organic compost production
• Recycling services

Headquarters

HQ city

Almancil

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Municipal Concession Fees: Revenue from long-term service contracts with 16 municipalities in the Algarve region for integrated waste management services including collection, treatment, and disposal
2. Waste Treatment and Disposal Fees: Fees charged for treatment and disposal of urban waste, collected from municipalities and private entities delivering waste to facilities. Pricing varies by waste type; recyclables are accepted free of charge
3. Product Sales (Energy, Recycled Materials, Organic Compost): Sale of produced electricity (exported to national grid), recycled materials (paper, plastic, metal, glass), and organic compost products (Nutriverde, Nutriverde Premium, Nutriverde Decor, Nutriterra)

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Algar is a multi-municipal environmental services company that provides integrated urban waste management for all 16 municipalities in Portugal's Algarve region. It operates selective collection, mechanical and biological treatment, energy recovery from biogas, landfill disposal, recycling sorting, and produces EU Ecolabel-certified organic compost (Nutriverde, NUTRITERRA) and electric energy. The company operates 32 facilities across 4,997 km² serving approximately 481,000 inhabitants.

Product overview

Algar is a multi-municipal waste management company serving the Algarve region of Portugal, operating as part of the EGF Group and Mota-Engil Group. The company offers an integrated portfolio of waste treatment and recovery services comprising: selective collection infrastructure (ecopontos, door-to-door services via Algarlinha), material sorting and recycling processing (Triagem), mechanical and biological treatment including green waste composting (producing Nutriverde, Nutriverde Premium, Nutriverde Decor, and NUTRITERRA organic products), landfill disposal with biogas capture, and energy recovery. Key products include organic compost branded under Nutriverde, recycled materials, electric energy from waste treatment, and customer-facing services like the Linha da Reciclagem hotline and mobile app. The company serves 16 municipalities covering 481,000 inhabitants across 4,997 km².

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Nutriverde: Organic compost produced from green waste, marketed by Algar for agricultural and gardening use.
• Nutriverde Premium
• Nutriverde Decor
• Nutriverra
• Algarlinha
• Linha da Reciclagem

Products and services

• Integrated Municipal Waste Management Concession
• Selective Collection Services
• Algarlinha Door-to-Door Collection Service
• Sorting of Recyclable Materials (Triagem)
• Mechanical and Biological Treatment (TMB)
• Landfill Disposal
• Energy Recovery from Biogas
• Linha da Reciclagem (Recycling Hotline)
• Linha da Reciclagem Mobile App
• Nutriverde Organic Compost

Quantifiable outcome

• 145,000 tonnes biowaste valorized in 2025 (14% growth)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NILG.AIcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2024Partnership with Portuguese AI startup to develop artificial intelligence tool for optimizing ecoponto placement locations, ensuring efficient and sustainable distribution of recycling bins throughout the Algarve region. This project received the Data Changemaker of the Year 2024 award.
• EGF (Empresa Geral do Fomento)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company and sole shareholder providing corporate governance, strategic direction, and integration with 11 other concessionary companies. Algar is one of 11 companies in the EGF Group, the leader in urban waste treatment and recovery in Portugal.
• Grupo Mota-EngilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUltimate parent group providing financial strength, corporate resources, and alignment with sustainability principles. The integration into Mota-Engil Group enables resource exploitation and innovation context for the company.
• Banco Alimentar Contra a Fome do AlgarvecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for Toneladas de Ajuda and Glass Recycling Mission campaigns, combining environmental sustainability with social impact. The partnership enables social institutions to receive financial compensation for recyclable materials delivered to Algar facilities.
• Sociedade Ponto VerdeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupport partner for glass recycling campaigns and environmental communication programs. Provided financing for the Glass Recycling Mission campaign launched in December 2025.
• White WayminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunication agency partnership for development of EGF's 2026 communication concept 'Juntos fazemos o Impossível' (Together we do the Impossible), a permanent invitation for citizens to participate in recycling and sustainability.
• Mota-EngilcoreOthersCorporate ethics and compliance framework including Code of Ethics, Whistleblowing Channel, Anti-Corruption Policy, Human Rights Policy, and Integrity Program shared across the Mota-Engil Group.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves15 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• FCC Medio Ambiente: Spanish-headquartered subsidiary of FCC Group operating waste collection, treatment, and recycling services across Spain, Portugal, and internationally. Larger scale and broader geographic footprint than Algar but overlapping in municipal concession-style waste management, MBT, and energy recovery.
• Urbaser: Spanish waste management and environmental services company operating municipal collection, treatment, recycling, and energy recovery across Iberia and Latin America. Direct competitor for any future competitive tenders in Portugal and a major player in the same Iberian municipal waste market.
• Veolia Environmental Services: Global waste management, water, and energy services giant with extensive Portuguese operations including municipal waste concessions. Significantly larger scale and broader service portfolio, but competes in the same concession tender landscape for integrated waste management.
• SUEZ Recycling and Recovery: French-headquartered global environmental services company operating municipal waste collection, sorting, treatment, and energy recovery across Europe including Iberia. Comparable integrated waste-to-resource value chain but at multi-national scale.

Emerging players

• Prezero: European environmental services company backed by the Schwarz Group (parent of Lidl/Kaufland) and active across Iberia in waste management, sorting, and recycling. A growing competitor in Portuguese municipal waste with rapidly scaling capabilities and technology investment.

Direct peers

• LIPOR: Portuguese intermunicipal waste management service serving 8 municipalities in the Greater Porto region. Operates under a similar multi-municipal public service model with recycling, composting, energy recovery, and environmental education — directly comparable to Algar but outside EGF Group.
• Suldouro: EGF Group sister concessionaire covering six municipalities in the Porto/Vila Nova de Gaia area. Operates similar selective collection, sorting, composting, and landfill infrastructure under the same multi-municipal concessionary framework as Algar.
• Amarsul: EGF Group sister company operating a multi-municipal solid waste management concession in the Setúbal Peninsula south of Lisbon. Same concessionary business model, same parent (EGF), and same Mota-Engil Group backing — directly comparable in scope, revenue model, and operational structure.
• Valorsul: EGF Group sister concessionaire serving 19 municipalities in the Greater Lisbon Oeste region for integrated urban waste management. Operates an MBT plant, sorting facilities, and energy recovery — overlapping product portfolio and concession structure with Algar.
• Tratolixo: Multi-municipal waste treatment system serving the Greater Lisbon Norte area; another EGF Group sister concessionaire. Comparable integrated services including selective collection, MBT, biogas energy recovery, and organic compost production.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/algarpt
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/algar-valoriza%C3%A7%C3%A3o-e-tratamento-de-res%C3%ADduos-s%C3%B3lidos
• Instagraminstagram.com/algar_pt

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Algar