Marking the beginning of summer, the APA, as part of the awareness campaign "Vamos Lixar o Lixo," which began at the start of the year, will tour six districts of the country with an information and awareness campaign, pointing out that this is when the most waste is produced, and August is the worst month.

1.8 million tons of waste

Last year, between June and September, more than 1.8 million tons of urban waste were produced, and in August alone, Portugal produced more than 480,000 tons, the APA explained in a statement.

With July and August being the most critical months, this new phase of the campaign aims to highlight the need for proper waste separation even during holidays and to promote responsible behaviour.

“During this seasonal period, when families and friends are gathered at home or on outings, the correct separation of waste should not be interrupted in order to reduce the environmental impact,” the APA emphasised in the statement.

New recycling campaign

The new action in the “Vamos Lixar o Lixo” campaign is a mobile truck from which initiatives depart, inviting communities to reflect on the importance of separating waste.

“Contrary to what common sense tells us, summer is regularly the period with the highest waste production in Portugal. This year, this trend is expected to continue. However, it is important to emphasise that trash does not pause or rest during the summer. With this action, we hope to involve communities in a problem that affects everyone, from the Algarve to Minho,” said the president of the APA, José Pimenta Machado, quoted in the statement.

The roadshow includes a test of the population's knowledge of proper waste separation, a sustainable consumption simulator that identifies consumer profiles, workshops for creating works of art from recycled materials, and games. It also includes a "wall of excuses," with the excuses often given for not separating waste correctly.

The "Vamos Lixar o Lixo" campaign runs until the end of the year.