Thousands partied at Afro Nation. By sunrise, Portimão was spotless again

As thousands of festivalgoers headed home after Afro Nation, a team of tireless men and women were just beginning their work.

Shortly after 6am each morning during the festival, EMARP’s urban cleaning crews took to the streets of Praia da Rocha in a race against the clock, clearing away the mountains of cups, bottles, food packaging and other litter left behind by one of Europe’s biggest beach festivals.

By the time most residents, business owners and holidaymakers woke up between 7.30am and 8am, the streets had largely returned to normal.

In a Facebook post published after the festival ended on Sunday, Portimão’s municipal waste and water company paid tribute to the workers responsible for the clean-up, highlighting a job that often goes unnoticed.

“Much is photographed and written about on social media,” EMARP said. “Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but when the party ends, this is the reality.”

The company described the operation as “a race against time”, with teams working in difficult conditions, facing high temperatures, unpleasant odours, physically demanding tasks and unsociable hours to ensure the city was ready for another day.

“It is difficult to put into words the scale of the work carried out and the commitment of those who face heat, odours, physical effort and demanding schedules every day so that we can all enjoy a clean city,” the statement said.

EMARP added that while images of overflowing bins and littered streets often circulate widely online during major events, the work required to restore the city rarely receives the same attention.

“Cleaning a city after an event of this scale is not just a job,” the company said. “It is an essential public service, carried out with professionalism and a strong sense of responsibility.”

The municipal company concluded by thanking its urban cleaning teams for their dedication and professionalism, saying their efforts help ensure that residents, businesses and visitors can continue to enjoy Portimão, even after one of the busiest weekends of the year.

Michael Bruxo

Journalist for the Portugal Resident.