The Portuguese Environmental Agency (APA) is launching a new campaign to raise awareness about the rise in urban waste generation during the summer. In 2025, between June and September, over 1.8 million tons of urban waste were produced; in August alone, Portugal generated more than 480,000 tons.

The latest phase of the “Let’s separate the waste” campaign aims to highlight the time of year when waste generation spikes, as July and August mark the most critical period in Portugal—with August seeing the highest volume of waste produced.

The communication initiative will tour six districts across the country over 18 days, featuring roadshows in Coimbra, Aveiro, Braga, Castelo Branco, Évora, and Portimão.

“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 emphasize that trash doesn’t take a break or rest during the summer. With this initiative, we hope to engage communities in an issue that affects everyone, from the Algarve to the Minho region,” says José Pimenta Machado, APA’s President.

Roadshow activities include a quiz testing public knowledge on proper waste sorting, a sustainable consumption simulator that identifies consumer profiles, workshops for creating art from recycled materials, and various family-friendly games, among other interactive activities.

The roadshow also features a mural—dubbed the “mural of excuses”—that collects the reasons people give for not sorting their waste correctly at each stop.

Roadshow stops:
June 19–21 – Coimbra (Praça da República)
June 26–28 – Aveiro
July 3–5 – Braga
July 10–12 – Castelo Branco
July 17–19 – Évora
July 24–26 – Portimão

The “Let’s separate the waste” campaign continues until the end of 2026.

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