Matosinhos, the newest signatory of the Circular Cities Declaration, is strongly committed to implementing a circular economy. The municipality is working on a number of projects to achieve its circular aims. One example is RECIRCULAR, which aims to rethink the ways that transform waste into resources, by increasing the repairability and durability of products.

RECIRCULAR will create a Laboratory for the Prevention and Reuse of Waste. The Lab will address the topic from both an environmental and a social perspective, intending to go much further than just improving the current waste management in the municipality; strengthening the municipality's social responses and social cohesion is a key objective of the Lab.

Acting as a resource center, through the collection of some materials/products that the population no longer needs, RECIRCULAR Lab intends to carry out a process of reuse, repair and/or reuse, with its destination being the donation to institutions and/or people/families in a situation of economic vulnerability. Through a network for collecting and reusing resources, the municipality will encourage networking, creating synergies and partnerships between the social sector, the private sector, local authorities, IPSS's, and other relevant entities that will be support and participatory agents into a new, more circular model of thinking, planning and acting.

Matosinhos has some experience with similar work. In the city there already are community urban vegetable gardens and school vegetable gardens, where composting is an essential practice. The municipality has also been offering composters and recycling bins to many citizens. Much of the organic waste from citizens' homes is composted by LIPOR, with the production of the Nutrimais compost. In the scope of Home and Community composting, Matosinhos Municipality has strongly increased the number of families that are composting their bio-waste.

In addition the municipality is working on two projects, in partnership with LIPOR aimed at reducing waste in catering and canteens. The Dose Certa project seeks to assess the potential for reducing food waste during its preparation and/or that is left on the customer's plate, and to create a "sustainable menu". The Embrulha project wants to offer sustainable and compostable packaging so that customers can take leftover food with them.

More information on Matosinhos’ circular activities can be found on their CCD page.