The \u201cLet\u2019s separate the waste” campaign will tour six districts to raise public awareness about waste sorting. The Portuguese Environmental Agency (APA) has highlighted the need to reinforce proper waste separation during the summer holidays, a period when urban waste generation increases in Portugal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This alert comes at the start of summer as part of the \u201cLet\u2019s separate the waste\u201d awareness campaign, which was launched earlier this year. The initiative will travel through six districts, conducting information activities aimed at the public during the time of year\u2014particularly August\u2014when waste generation peaks. According to the APA, over 1.8 million tons of urban waste were produced between June and September of last year. In August alone, Portugal generated more than 480,000 tons of waste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As July and August are the most critical months, they mark a new phase of the campaign, which aims to highlight the importance of maintaining proper waste sorting during the holidays and to encourage more responsible behavior. \u201cDuring this seasonal period, when families and friends gather\u2014whether at home or while out and about\u2014proper waste sorting should not be abandoned, so as to reduce environmental impact,\u201d APA noted in its statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The new phase of the \u201cLet\u2019s separate the waste\u201d campaign features a mobile unit that serves as a base for initiatives inviting communities to reflect on the importance of waste sorting.<\/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 said APA’s president Jos\u00e9 Pimenta Machado, as quoted in the statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The roadshow features a quiz to test public knowledge on proper waste sorting, a sustainable consumption simulator that identifies consumer profiles, workshops for creating art from recycled materials, and games. It also includes an \u201cmural of excuses\u201d displaying the reasons often given for failing to sort waste correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The \u201cLet\u2019s separate the waste” campaign runs until the end of the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
APA, a public institute within the State\u2019s indirect administration, is the entity responsible for implementing environmental policies in Portugal, with a mandate covering monitoring, planning and assessment, licensing, and enforcement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n