The Portuguese Environmental Agency (APA) is launching a new campaign to raise awareness about the rise in urban waste generation during the summer. In 2025, between June and September, over 1.8 million tons of urban waste were produced; in August alone, Portugal generated more than 480,000 tons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The latest phase of the \u201cLet\u2019s separate the waste” campaign aims to highlight the time of year when waste generation spikes, as July and August mark the most critical period in Portugal\u2014with August seeing the highest volume of waste produced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The communication initiative will tour six districts across the country over 18 days, featuring roadshows in Coimbra, Aveiro, Braga, Castelo Branco, \u00c9vora, and Portim\u00e3o.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cContrary to popular belief, summer is consistently the period with the highest waste generation in Portugal. This trend is expected to continue this year. However, it is important to emphasize that trash doesn’t take a break or rest during the summer. With this initiative, we hope to engage communities in an issue that affects everyone, from the Algarve to the Minho region,\u201d says Jos\u00e9 Pimenta Machado, APA’s President.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Roadshow activities include 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 family-friendly games, among other interactive activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The roadshow also features a mural\u2014dubbed the \u201cmural of excuses\u201d\u2014that collects the reasons people give for not sorting their waste correctly at each stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n