On Halloween night, more than 100 families witnessed the counter-attack of “Monos & Companhia”: a brotherhood of abandoned appliances and furniture that came to life with a new purpose... to haunt the Aveiro community!

Just before sunset, at around 4:30 PM, volunteers from Agora Aveiro appeared in Largo Dr. Jaime Magalhães Lima, with the mission of raising awareness among the population, warning them of the dangers of letting these “Monos” loose!

In Aveiro, 241 tons of “monos”, bulky waste such as fridges, televisions, bookcases, mattresses, etc. were produced during 2023. Unfortunately, around 25% of the Portuguese population doesn't know how to dispose of this waste properly. For residents of the Municipality of Aveiro, the process is made easier by Veolia, which, after being called upon (by telephone: +351 234 127 942), is responsible for collecting and recycling this waste.

The “Monos”, collected over the last few months by Veolia, were carefully decorated by hand, giving life to ghosts, vampires, bats, spiders and zombies. The way they were displayed, they created a spooky trail for the little ones to have fun looking for sweets and learn about the sad abandonment stories of Sofantasma, Fridgenstein or Televimpiro!

Why shouldn't we abandon these “monos”? For starters, these large pieces of equipment represent a major threat to the environment, ecosystems and public health. When improperly disposed of - left on public roads, in open fields or next to garbage cans - they release flammable, corrosive and toxic substances into the environment. Some of these substances can also affect human health, especially the brain, heart, liver, kidneys and reproductive system. They also create favorable conditions for the spread of mosquitoes and rodents, which in turn help to spread diseases. In addition, their improper disposal results in a waste of resources and valuable metals such as neodymium, indium and cobalt.

What can we do to reduce this impact? The most effective solution is to make them last longer! Whenever possible, you should buy higher quality equipment which, although more expensive, tends to withstand more cycles of use. Care should be taken when using them, and they should be properly maintained. When they break down, they should be repaired and if they are no longer needed, they should be given to someone who will put them to good use.

The “Monos & Companhia” project goes beyond raising awareness, seeking to inspire concrete changes in bulky waste disposal habits, towards a more conscious and sustainable society. This initiative is focused on the younger generations, because we believe that children are the driving force behind transformation. By opting for responsible disposal, reuse and recycling, we can give these forgotten objects a new lease of life. Together, we can create a future in which Monos don't haunt the streets, but are reborn with new stories to tell!

“Monos & Companhia" is part of the "Underground Division" project of Agora Aveiro. It was made in partnership with Veolia Portugal, and was supported by Câmara Municipal de Aveiro and IPDJ - Instituto Português do Desporto e Juventude I.P..