Frequently asked questions

What do Ecoembes’ expenses and income depend on?
Around 98% of Ecoembes' total expenditure is operational costs (collection, transport, treatment, awareness-raising, etc.), which are entirely allocated to maintaining the packaging recycling system for local authorities throughout the country, which are responsible for managing the yellow and blue containers on the ground. These operating expenses depend basically on the amount of light domestic packaging that is recovered, as more tonnes recovered mean higher collection, sorting and treatment costs. The remaining 2% are structural expenses (office rent, equipment, salaries, etc.).
Ecoembes' income is calculated on the basis of these expenses. This calculation cannot generate any economic profit since, by law (Packaging Law 11/97 and Waste Law 22/11), Ecoembes is a non-profit organisation. Eighty-eight per cent of its income comes from Punto Verde payments made by companies (in accordance with the current Waste Act) and the remaining 12% is obtained from the sale of recovered materials, which helps to reduce the gross annual cost of the public service of collecting and treating packaging waste.