The Portuguese Environmental Agency (APA) issued a warning today regarding the urgent need for proper waste sorting 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, APA is launching a new phase of its “Let’s separate the waste” awareness campaign—which began earlier this year—by touring six districts across the country with information and outreach activities. The agency highlights that waste generation peaks during this season, 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, APA noted in a statement released today. With July and August being the most critical months, this new campaign phase aims to raise awareness about the need for proper waste sorting—even while on vacation—and to promote responsible behavior.

“During this seasonal period, when families and friends gather—whether at home or while out and about—proper waste sorting should not be abandoned; maintaining this practice helps reduce environmental impact,” APA emphasized in the statement.

The new “Let’s separate the waste” initiative features a traveling truck that serves as a base for activities inviting communities to reflect on the importance of waste sorting.

“Contrary to popular 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 stress that waste production does not pause or take a break during the summer. Through this initiative, we hope to engage communities in addressing a problem that affects everyone, from the Algarve to the Minho region,” 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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