The Portuguese Environmental Agency (APA) is launching an awareness campaign on proper urban waste sorting, mindful that summer is the peak season for waste generation in Portugal, with August being the worst month of the year. The campaign will officially kick off in Coimbra on the 19th at Pra\u00e7a da Rep\u00fablica, starting at 3:00 PM. Following this, the awareness initiative\u2014featuring a traveling truck or “Roadshow” that invites communities to reflect on the importance of sorting the waste they generate\u2014will tour six districts across the country, from Braga to Portim\u00e3o.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The “Roadshow\u2019s” sustainable trailer features a quiz testing public knowledge on proper waste sorting, 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The “Roadshow” also includes a mural that collects the excuses people give for not sorting 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\u2019s separate the waste” campaign highlights the time of year when urban waste generation sees its greatest increase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Between June and September, over 1.8 million tons of urban waste were generated, with Portugal producing more than 480,000 tons in August alone. The summer campaign aims to raise awareness about 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
Against this backdrop, APA emphasizes the urgent need for proper waste sorting during the summer holiday season, encouraging responsible behaviors that ensure waste is correctly routed for recycling. During this seasonal period when families and friends gather\u2014whether at home or while out and about\u2014proper waste separation should not be neglected, so as to reduce environmental impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cContrary to common belief, summer is typically the period with the 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 says Jos\u00e9 Pimenta Machado, APA’s president. Following Coimbra, the tour continues to Aveiro (June 26\u201328), Braga (July 3\u20135), Castelo Branco (June 10\u201312), \u00c9vora (July 17\u201319), and Portim\u00e3o (July 24\u201326).<\/p>\n\n\n\n