The Portuguese Environmental Agency (APA) is holding the final leg of its awareness-raising roadshow on the importance of correctly sorting urban waste at the Portimão Marina, running from Friday through Sunday. This initiative is part of the “Let’s separate the waste” campaign and aims to engage local communities in promoting responsible behavior—especially during the summer, a season that sees a significant increase in waste generation in Portugal.

The roadshow—featuring a mobile unit—will be open on Friday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Saturday from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, and Sunday from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM. It offers various activities, such as a quiz to test knowledge on waste sorting, a sustainable consumption simulator, art workshops using recycled materials, and games for the whole family. Additionally, it features a mural displaying common excuses for not sorting waste correctly, challenging the public to cut down on justifications and increase recycling efforts.

According to APA, over 1.8 million tons of urban waste were produced in Portugal between June and September 2025, with August recording the highest volume—exceeding 480,000 tons. APA President José Pimenta Machado emphasizes that “contrary 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 highlight that waste doesn’t take a break or rest during the summer. With this initiative, we hope to engage communities in an issue that concerns everyone, from the Algarve to the Minho region.”

During the summer, as families and friends gather at home or go on outings, APA stresses the urgent need to maintain proper waste sorting to reduce environmental impact and ensure waste is correctly routed for recycling.

The “Let’s separate the waste” campaign will continue until the end of 2026, with information constantly updated on the initiative’s official website. The public is invited to participate in the Roadshow activities and to adopt responsible waste-sorting practices in their daily lives.

APA is a public institute responsible for implementing environmental policies in Portugal. Its remit includes monitoring, planning, assessment, licensing, and enforcement, and it operates across the entire mainland territory with a workforce of approximately 1,100 professionals and an accredited laboratory network.