The Portuguese Environmental Agency (APA) is marking the start of summer with a communication, awareness-raising, and information campaign highlighting the urgent need for proper urban waste separation in Portugal; the initiative will travel across six districts of the country, from Braga to Portim\u00e3o.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The next stop for APA\u2019s summer awareness campaign is the city of Braga, at Pra\u00e7a da Rep\u00fablica, running from Friday (9:00 AM\u20136:00 PM) through Saturday (9:00 AM\u20138:00 PM) and Sunday (11:00 AM\u20136:00 PM). In the coming days, a traveling truck\u2014or “Roadshow”\u2014will invite the communities of Coimbra to reflect on the importance of sorting the waste generated in their homes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The “Roadshow\u2019s” sustainable trailer features a quiz testing the public’s knowledge of proper waste separation, a sustainable consumption simulator that identifies consumer profiles, workshops for creating art from recycled materials, and various games for the whole family, among other activities. The “Roadshow” also features a mural that collects the excuses people give for not sorting their waste correctly at each stop\u2014the “mural of excuses.” This thought-provoking mural aims to challenge the public to make fewer excuses and recycle more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This new phase of APA\u2019s “Let’s separate the waste” campaign draws attention to the time of year when urban waste generation sees its sharpest increase. Between June and September, over 1.8 million tons of urban waste were produced; in August alone, Portugal generated more than 480,000 tons. The summer campaign aims to highlight this peak period for waste generation, as July and August are the most critical months in Portugal, with August recording the highest volume of waste produced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this context, the APA highlights the urgent need for proper waste sorting during the summer holiday period, encouraging responsible behaviors that ensure waste is correctly routed for recycling. During this season, when families and friends gather\u2014whether at home or while out and about\u2014proper waste sorting should not be neglected, so as to reduce environmental impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cContrary to common belief, summer is typically the period of highest waste generation in Portugal. This trend is expected to continue this year. However, it is important to emphasize that waste does not take a break or rest during the summer. With this initiative, we hope to engage communities in a problem that concerns everyone, from the Algarve to the Minho,\u201d notes Jos\u00e9 Pimenta Machado, President of the APA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n