Recycling roadshow heads to Algarve beaches

Children enjoying the summer holidays in the Algarve will have the chance to learn about recycling through games and activities this week as the Academia Ponto Verde roadshow visits the region.

The initiative will stop at Verdelago Beach on Thursday, July 16, before moving to the Alvor Sports Complex on Friday, July 17, where children and young people will be invited to take part in three interactive activities designed to teach the importance of recycling packaging waste.

Organised by Sociedade Ponto Verde, the travelling educational programme is touring beaches and swimming pools across Portugal until July 31 in what organisers describe as its biggest edition to date.

This year’s programme features a giant board game, Recicla Mania, where participants test their recycling knowledge, alongside storytelling sessions introducing two new tales about sorting packaging waste correctly.

A new addition for 2026 is the Gincana, a team challenge in which children collect discarded packaging along a route before separating it into the correct recycling bins.

The roadshow aims to encourage sustainable habits during the summer holidays, reaching children spending time at beaches, municipal pools and holiday camps organised by schools, councils and other organisations.

“This summer we are returning to Algarve beaches and swimming pools to continue raising awareness among children about the importance of recycling packaging in a practical, participatory and fun way,” said Ricardo Sacoto Lagoa, Marketing, Awareness and Communications Director at Sociedade Ponto Verde.

He said the expanded programme aims to reach more than 5,000 children nationwide and help Portugal achieve its environmental target of collecting 65% of all packaging placed on the market this year.

The Academia Ponto Verde is the organisation’s environmental education programme, promoting recycling awareness throughout the year. During the 2025/26 school year it reached more than 37,500 pupils across Portugal, well above its original target of 21,000 participants.

After its Algarve visits, the roadshow will continue to locations across mainland Portugal, Madeira and the Azores until the end of July.

Upcoming Academia Ponto Verde locations

July 15 – Beja Municipal Swimming Pool (Beja)

July 16 – Verdelago Beach (Faro)

July 17 – Alvor Sports Complex (Portimão)

July 20 – Ponte da Barca Municipal Swimming Pool Complex (Viana do Castelo)

July 21 – Apúlia Beach (Braga)

July 23 – Lomba River Beach (Porto)

July 27 – Lido Bathing Complex (Funchal)

July 28 – Ponta da Gorda Bathing Complex (Funchal)

July 30 – Milícias Beach (Ponta Delgada)

July 31 – Pópulo Beach (Ponta Delgada)

Inês Lopes

Newspaper editor at The Portugal Resident