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Tilos

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CommunityTilos

Tilos: Greece's first certified Zero Waste island

A small Aegean island that changed the national conversation Tilos, a tiny island of around 800 permanent residents in the South Aegean, became Greece's first Zero Waste certified municipality through the Just Go Zero programme supported by ECOREC and funded by the South Aegean Region. By September 2024 the initiative had diverted approximately 14,600 kg of recyclables from landfill, significantly improving local environmental conditions and building a culture of source separation among residents, businesses, and visitors. What makes Tilos a model - Source separation extended to restaurants, hotels, and catering services - Community participation built through education and close municipal coordination - South Aegean Region funding provided the infrastructure budget, making the model replicable for neighbouring small islands - Certification achieved despite the absence of a local organic waste processing facility: demonstrating that progress is possible even where infrastructure gaps remain Why it matters beyond Tilos Tilos is the proof point the Greek zero waste movement has needed. The island's certification received national media coverage and directly influenced the South Aegean Region's decision to fund continuation: increasing the likelihood that neighbouring islands will follow. In a country planning up to six waste-to-energy plants by 2030, Tilos shows an alternative path that works. How to engage - Visit Tilos and participate in its waste separation culture: tourism revenue supports the programme - Follow ECOREC for the expansion of Just Go Zero to additional Greek islands - Share Tilos's results with local councillors on other Aegean islands as advocacy for similar programmes Source & repost Shared here so you can get inspired or find action already happening near you. Solarpunker does not own or organise it. - National coordinator: ECOREC – Ecological Recycling Society - Just Go Zero programme: South Aegean Region / ECOREC / Zero Waste Europe - Report chapter: ZWE State of Zero Waste Municipalities, 5th edition
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Initiatives in Tilos

TilosDate TBD

Tilos recyclables diversion: 14,600 kg kept from landfill

Sorting on a small island adds up fast Tilos's Just Go Zero programme diverted approximately 14,600 kg of recyclables from landfill by September 2024, improving local environmental conditions and cementing the island's status as Greece's first Zero Waste certified municipality. The programme involves active source separation by residents, businesses, restaurants, hotels, and catering services: with ECOREC providing ongoing monitoring and support. Where - Tilos Island, Dodecanese, South Aegean (approximate pin at Livadia village, the main settlement) How to participate - Residents of Tilos: continue or begin source separation at home: the programme depends on consistent household participation - Businesses: contact the municipality about joining the hospitality collection stream for organics and packaging - Visitors: sort waste using the island's clearly marked bins; ask accommodation hosts how the certification programme works Source & repost Shared here so you can get inspired or find action already happening near you. Solarpunker does not own or organise it. - Programme: ECOREC – Ecological Recycling Society + Just Go Zero - Funder: South Aegean Region - Report chapter: ZWE State of Zero Waste Municipalities, 5th edition
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Ideas and initiatives from neighbouring cities in the wider Athens area.

Ideas across the region

CommunitySkiathos

Skiathos Zero Waste candidate: plastic prevention and the ERIC project

A tourist island taking on plastic: with EU support Skiathos, one of the Sporades islands and a major summer tourist destination, is a Zero Waste candidate municipality working with ECOREC on a Plastic Prevention Plan under the EU ERIC (Elevating Reuse In Cities) project. The plan, in development as of 2024: addresses the particular waste challenge of an island that receives hundreds of thousands of tourists each summer, many of them arriving on dayboats, generating concentrated seasonal waste. What the Skiathos programme covers - Plastic Prevention Plan being developed with ECOREC and the ERIC project framework - Collaboration with the municipality on waste stream analysis and reduction targets - The Zero Waste Rota programme trains dayboat operators to educate tourists on waste disposal at sea and on remote beaches not accessible by road Why it matters Greek tourist islands generate disproportionate waste relative to their permanent populations. A working plastic prevention plan in Skiathos would give every other Aegean tourist island a concrete template: and the ERIC project means European funding and methodology back the effort. How to engage - If you visit Skiathos, follow guidance on dayboat operators' waste practices and separate waste correctly at island facilities - Follow ECOREC for the Plastic Prevention Plan's public consultation stages - Ask your own municipality's environmental office whether ERIC project participation is available Source & repost Shared here so you can get inspired or find action already happening near you. Solarpunker does not own or organise it. - National coordinator: ECOREC – Ecological Recycling Society - ERIC project: Elevating Reuse In Cities - Report chapter: ZWE State of Zero Waste Municipalities, 5th edition
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CommunitySkiathos

Coastal zero waste tourism: how dayboats can protect remote beaches

Skiathos shows that tourist operators can lead on waste The Zero Waste Rota programme, developed by ECOREC and the Municipality of Skiathos, trains dayboat operators to actively educate tourists about proper waste disposal: including at remote beaches that are inaccessible by road and therefore lack collection infrastructure. The programme measurably increased recycling rates on the island and fostered a culture of environmental responsibility among visitors. What the programme involves - Dayboat operators receive training on waste separation and guest communication - Tourists are briefed on board before reaching remote beaches about what to do with packaging and recyclables - Operators bring separated waste back to port for collection: protecting beaches that cannot be serviced by standard vehicles - The approach is scalable to any island with a dayboat economy Why it matters Greece's Aegean islands face intense seasonal waste from marine tourism. Regulation alone cannot reach a boat at sea or a path-only beach. The Skiathos model shows that education and operator buy-in can do what infrastructure cannot, and it is directly replicable on any island with a similar tourist boat economy. How to replicate it - If you operate or charter boats in the Aegean, contact ECOREC about Zero Waste Rota training - If you visit Greek islands by dayboat, ask whether the operator follows Zero Waste Rota practices: and request it if not - Municipal waste officers on other islands can use the Skiathos programme as a template for ERIC or national funding bids Source & repost Shared here so you can get inspired or find action already happening near you. Solarpunker does not own or organise it. - National coordinator: ECOREC – Ecological Recycling Society - Zero Waste Rota: Municipality of Skiathos + ECOREC - Report chapter: ZWE State of Zero Waste Municipalities, 5th edition
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Initiatives across the region

SkiathosDate TBD

Zero Waste Rota: Skiathos dayboat waste programme

Train with operators, protect remote beaches The Zero Waste Rota programme runs out of Skiathos port, training dayboat operators on waste separation and tourist education. Operators brief passengers before departures to remote beaches, collect separated recyclables on board, and return them to port-side collection facilities: protecting coastline that would otherwise receive no waste management at all. Where - Skiathos Port, Skiathos Island, Sporades (approximate pin at harbour) How to participate - Visitors: book a dayboat tour: ask the operator whether they are Zero Waste Rota certified; separate your waste on board as instructed - Operators: contact ECOREC to join the training programme and get Zero Waste Rota certification - Municipalities: use the Skiathos model as the basis for a funding application to ERIC or the South Aegean Region Source & repost Shared here so you can get inspired or find action already happening near you. Solarpunker does not own or organise it. - Programme: ECOREC – Ecological Recycling Society + Municipality of Skiathos - Report chapter: ZWE State of Zero Waste Municipalities, 5th edition
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