The Portuguese Environmental Agency (APA) issued a warning today regarding the urgent need for proper waste separation during the summer holidays—a time when the highest volume of urban waste is generated, totaling nearly two million tons.

To mark the start of summer, the APA is taking its “Let’s separate the waste” awareness campaign—launched earlier this year—on a tour of six districts across the country. The initiative aims to inform and raise awareness, highlighting that waste generation peaks now, with August being the worst month.

Last year, between June and September, over 1.8 million tons of urban waste were produced; August alone accounted for more than 480,000 tons, the APA noted in a statement released today. With July and August being the most critical months, this new phase of the campaign seeks to emphasize the need for proper waste separation—even while on vacation—and to promote responsible behavior. “During this seasonal period, when families and friends gather at home or while out and about, proper waste separation should not be abandoned; maintaining it helps reduce environmental impact,” APA stressed in the statement.

The new phase of the “Let’s separate the waste” campaign features a traveling truck that serves as a base for initiatives inviting communities to reflect on the importance of waste separation.

“Contrary to common belief, summer is consistently 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. Through this initiative, we hope to engage communities in addressing a problem that affects everyone, from the Algarve to the Minho,” said APA’s president José Pimenta Machado, as quoted in the statement.

The roadshow features a quiz on public knowledge regarding proper waste separation, a sustainable consumption simulator that identifies consumer profiles, workshops for creating art from recycled materials, and games. It also includes an “mural of excuses” displaying the reasons often given for failing to separate waste correctly.

The “Let’s separate the waste” campaign runs until the end of the year.

The APA—a public institute within the State’s indirect administration—is the entity responsible for implementing environmental policies in Portugal, with a remit covering monitoring, planning and evaluation, licensing, and enforcement.

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