APA’s mobile unit raises awareness in Portimão about waste separation
Portimão is the final stop of the “Roadshow” that traveled through six districts to raise public awareness about recycling during the summer.
From Friday to Sunday, the Portimão Marina hosts the final stop of the “Roadshow” organized by the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) to raise awareness about the proper sorting of urban waste. The initiative traveled through six districts—from Braga to Portimão—and is part of the “Let’s separate the waste” campaign, which aims to highlight the increase in waste generation during the summer and the need to maintain recycling habits while on vacation.
The mobile unit will be open to the public 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. The APA explains that the initiative invites Algarve communities to reflect on the importance of correctly sorting household waste. The sustainable trailer features a quiz to test participants’ knowledge of waste sorting and a sustainable consumption simulator that identifies different consumer profiles.
The program also includes workshops for creating art from recycled materials, family-friendly games, and other environmental information and awareness activities. The initiative features a mural that collects the reasons given by the public in each location for not sorting waste correctly. According to the APA, this “mural of excuses” seeks to challenge communities “to make fewer excuses and recycle more.”
This new phase of the “Let’s separate the waste” campaign focuses on the period when Portugal sees the greatest increase in urban waste generation. According to data released by the APA, over 1.8 million tons of urban waste were produced in the country between June and September 2025. In August alone, the volume exceeded 480,000 tons.
The agency identifies July and August as the most critical months, with August recording the highest volume of waste. Against this backdrop, the organization urges people to continue properly sorting their waste during the holidays—whether at home, while out and about, or during gatherings with family and friends. “Contrary to popular belief, summer is typically the period when the most waste is generated in Portugal. This trend is expected to continue this year.
However, it is important to emphasize that waste generation 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,” states APA President José Pimenta Machado.
Although Portimão is the final stop for the “Roadshow,” the “Let’s separate the waste” campaign will continue through the end of 2026.