Praça da República in Braga is hosting the national roadshow “Let’s separate the waste” from today through Sunday (July 3–5). This initiative is promoted by the Portuguese Environmental Agency (APA), supported by the Environmental Fund, and co-financed by European funds; it aims to raise public awareness regarding the proper separation and recovery of biowaste.

The campaign seeks to encourage the adoption of more sustainable habits by promoting the separate collection of organic waste and helping to reduce the amount of such material sent to landfills.

The initiative’s official presentation was attended by Braga’s Mayor, João Rodrigues, who highlighted the project’s importance in addressing the environmental challenges faced by a growing municipality.

“This project is crucial for waste management in a city that is constantly growing and needs to adapt its environmental responses to that dynamic,” the mayor stated.

João Rodrigues also emphasized the importance of environmental education for younger generations, noting that fostering awareness about waste separation from an early age is essential.

“It is vital to educate people early on about the importance of waste separation, ensuring that new generations grow up knowing that bio-waste is significant and that its proper treatment makes a real difference,” he remarked.

Also present at the event was the Secretary of State for the Environment, João Manuel Esteves, who described the initiative as a collective commitment to sustainability. “We want a clean Portugal,” the official stated, arguing that achieving this goal depends on active citizen participation and the success of local outreach campaigns like the one taking place in Braga.

Meanwhile, the president of the Portuguese Environmental Agency, José Pimenta Machado, warned of the increase in waste generation during the summer, stressing the need to step up awareness-raising efforts at this time of year.

The launch of the roadshow also involved around 150 children from local schools and private social solidarity institutions (IPSS), who took part in educational and recreational activities focused on the separation and recovery of biowaste.

Through this initiative, the organizers aim to reinforce the role of environmental education from an early age and encourage more responsible behaviors, thereby fostering greater community participation in sustainable waste management and environmental protection.

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Praça da República in Braga has become the epicenter of sustainability with the launch of the national roadshow “Let’s separate the waste”. The initiative, running from today, July 3, through Sunday, July 5, 2026, is promoted by the Portuguese Environmental Agency (APA), with support from the Environmental Fund and co-financing from European funds. Its primary goal is to raise awareness and mobilize the community regarding the proper separation and recovery of biowaste (organic waste).

The event’s official presentation at Braga’s iconic “Arcada” brought together government officials, local leaders, and environmental executives, and was notable for the strong presence of around 150 children from local schools and social welfare institutions (IPSS).

Braga’s Mayor João Rodrigues emphasized the campaign’s crucial impact on the local strategy, noting that the project arrives at the right moment for a city experiencing continuous growth—a city that needs to align its environmental responses with this demographic dynamic.

The mayor focused on education, highlighting the strategic commitment to training the younger generation. For Rodrigues, early education on the importance of waste separation ensures that new generations grow up aware that organic waste holds value and that its proper treatment makes a significant difference to the urban ecosystem.

The event’s national significance was underscored by the Secretary of State for the Environment, João Manuel Esteves, who described the commitment to recycling as vital for everyone, linking it to the goal of building a “clean Portugal” through grassroots, community-focused actions.

Meanwhile, APA’s President José Pimenta Machado highlighted the seasonal challenges facing sustainability. He noted that the arrival of summer and the rise in tourism lead to increased waste generation, making it even more urgent to reinforce these awareness campaigns among residents and visitors to prevent organic matter from unnecessarily ending up in landfills.

Throughout the weekend, the roadshow venue will offer recreational and educational activities as well as interactive experiences for families, turning citizens into active agents in promoting a culture of environmental responsibility.

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From Friday to Sunday, Praça da República in Braga will host an awareness-raising event organized by the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) focused on the proper sorting of urban waste, as part of the national campaign “Let’s separate the waste”. The initiative is part of a traveling roadshow visiting various districts across the country; it aims to raise awareness about the significant increase in waste generation during the summer and to promote more sustainable practices within communities.

In Braga, the event runs from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Friday, 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM on Saturday, and 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Sunday, featuring various interactive activities for all ages. The traveling truck hosts waste-sorting quizzes, sustainable consumption simulators, material reuse workshops, and educational games, all designed to encourage active visitor participation. A key feature of the campaign is the “mural of excuses,” which displays common reasons people give for not sorting their waste, with the goal of encouraging a shift in behavior.

APA notes that summer is traditionally the peak period for urban waste generation in Portugal, emphasizing the importance of maintaining recycling habits even while on vacation or traveling. The campaign reinforces the message that waste production does not decrease during the summer season and that proper sorting is essential to ensure waste is correctly routed for recycling and to minimize environmental impact.

After its stop in Braga, the roadshow will continue to Castelo Branco, Évora, and Portimão through the end of July.

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