• Recycling in the Municipality of Vari-Voula-Vouliagmeni – The beginning of the Circular Economy Application

    Miltiadis Kavrakos1, Elli Bita2 , Alexandros Kavrakos3, Antonios Kitsantas4, Grigorios Konstantellos5

    1. Waste Management and Recycling Unit, Municipality of Vari – Voula – Vouliagmeni, 18 K. Karamanli str, 16673, Voula, Greece.
    2. Mayor’s Cabinet, Municipality of Vari – Voula – Vouliagmeni, 18 K. Karamanli str, 16673, Voula, Greece.
    3. School of Production Engineering and Management, Technical University of Crete, University Campus, Akrotiri, 731 00, Chania, Greece.
    4. School of Mechanical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Zografou Campus, 9 Iroon Polytechniou str, 15780, Zografou, Greece.
    5. Mayor, Municipality of Vari – Voula – Vouliagmeni, 18 K. Karamanli str, 16673, Voula, Greece.

    Abstract:

    The main goal of the new recycling methodology for the collection of solid waste in the city of Vari – Voula – Vouliagmeni (VVV), is the matching of the waste producer with the generation of waste for which she/he is responsible. The aim is to strengthen the participation of citizens, businesses and organizations in the activities of the Municipality which implement and expand the circular economy.It is estimated that the philosophy of positive reward will have significant effects and will be a bridge between the current situation and the future, where, on the basis of the European waste strategy, the ‘polluter pays’ principle should be applied.

    The result of increasing of the waste quantities that pre-selected / recycled / composted, will lead to a decrease of quantities of unprocessed waste, that are currently be leaded to burial. There are also obvious economic benefits, resulting from the saving/reduction of landfill taxes and fines. Main objectives of this new methodology are

    • Creation of local strategies, action plans and tools in order to increase the proportion of sorting in the waste source in order to promote reuse and recycling.
    • Strengthening citizen participation in recycling systems and in circular economy.
    • Improving citizens’ income through active participation in local recycling activities under the moto ‘Benefit As you Save’.
    • Sharing best practices and transferring knowledge to innovative solid waste management in local level.

    In conclusion 24,95%, or 11.047,87 tones of municipal solid waste were diverted from landfill in 2019, 8.412,52 tones more than 2016, a year in which we did not apply this new methodology.

    Keywords: waste management, circular economy, recycle, compost, source separation, matching.

    Pages: 230 – 239 | Full PDF Paper