Portugal suspends foreign trash imports to cope with own increased waste

FILE PHOTO: Imported waste is seen piled at the port of Leixoes in Matosinhos Portugal, January 8, 2020. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante/File Photo

LISBON (Reuters) - Portugal, which usually attracts huge mounds of rubbish from other European states because of its low waste management fees, has suspended imports of trash until the end of 2020 to protect domestic landfill capacity, the government said on Saturday.

"This decision is intended to ensure we have sufficient national capacity in waste processing facilities," the government said in a statement.