The Portuguese Environmental Agency (APA) has issued a warning regarding the waste generated in the country during the summer months, noting that 1.8 million tons of municipal waste are produced between June and September alone. APA points out that this rise in waste generation not only causes environmental problems but also places increased strain on collection and recycling systems—particularly on landfills. More than half of municipal waste still ends up in landfills, and the country is currently facing a structural crisis regarding these sites, as there is increasingly less space available for burying additional waste. At present, the average citizen in Portugal produces half a ton of waste per year (519 kilograms per person).

According to José Pimenta Machado, president of the Portuguese Environmental Agency, it is essential to boost recycling rates—which have stagnated at around 20%—and to reduce the burden on landfills. APA is specifically calling for the separation of organic waste, which accounts for a significant portion of the total waste ending up in landfills.

The Portuguese Environmental Agency is conducting a nationwide campaign under the slogan “Let’s separate the waste”. This message is being spread across the cities visited by the campaign to encourage the Portuguese people to generate less waste.

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