On July 3, 4, and 5, Braga\u2019s Pra\u00e7a da Rep\u00fablica is hosting the national roadshow “Let\u2019s separate the waste”. This nationwide initiative is promoted by the Portuguese Environmental Agency (APA) with support from the Environmental Fund and co-financing from European funds; it is dedicated to raising public awareness and mobilizing the population regarding the proper separation and recovery of biowaste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The project aims to engage the community in adopting more sustainable habits, reinforcing the importance of separate biowaste collection and reducing the amount of organic waste sent to landfills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The official presentation of the roadshow in Braga was attended by Mayor Jo\u00e3o Rodrigues, who underscored the initiative’s crucial impact on the municipality’s future. “This project is vital for waste management in a city that is constantly growing and needs to adapt its environmental responses to that dynamic,” he noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jo\u00e3o Rodrigues also highlighted the strategic focus on “educating the youth,” emphasizing that “it is fundamental to teach the importance of waste separation from an early age, ensuring that new generations grow up knowing that bio-waste is highly important” and that proper treatment makes a significant difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, the Secretary of State for the Environment, Jo\u00e3o Manuel Esteves, acknowledged the project’s scale and ambition, stating that this commitment is “important for everyone.” He took the opportunity to stress the national vision for the sector: “We want a clean Portugal”\u2014a goal that, according to him, depends directly on the success of grassroots initiatives like this one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also present at the event was the President of the Portuguese Environmental Agency (APA), Jos\u00e9 Pimenta Machado, who drew attention to seasonal sustainability challenges. He noted that “with the arrival of summer, we produce more waste,” making the reinforcement of these awareness campaigns among residents and visitors “even more urgent.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Around 150 children from local schools and non-profit social organizations also joined the initiative. This strong participation by young people gave special significance to the project’s launch, reinforcing the importance of environmental education from an early age and the involvement of new generations in adopting more sustainable behaviors. Through engaging educational activities, the children learned about best practices for sorting and recovering organic waste, becoming active agents in promoting a culture of environmental responsibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n