ECOREC Waste Workshop Athens

8/3/2019 ECOREC Waste Workshop Athens

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Non profit environmental organizationfounded on 1990

ERS deals with

prevention, preparing for reuse, recyclingand sustainable management of waste,

and resource efficiency at the local,national, European and international

level.

Ecological Recycling Society


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Our aims

Prevention and environmentally sound

management of wasteSustainable management of natural resources

and energy

Organization and support of waste reduction,reuse and recycling projects

Public awareness and sensitization

Sustainable production and consumption

Development aid on sustainable management of

waste and natural resources

Ecological Recycling Society


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Ecological Recycling SocietyOur activities Public awareness campaigns

Implementation of projects on sustainable waste

management

Environmental education projects in schools of allgrades

Collaboration with local authorities to initiate andrealize recycling projects, relating to sustainablemanagement of waste and public awarenessprojects.

Training and orientation in the field of sustainable

waste management and other environmental issuesto members of marginalized groups. 3


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BackgroundThe ministrys estimates that

5.8 million tons MSW produced annually

Waste Management Greece

Over 504 kg wasteproduced by each Greekper year. Total waste

produced 5.8 million tonsof which 4.8 end-up inlandfill or are baled.


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Currently 90 Sanitary landfills in Greece.

Of these 77 are functioning, 7 are in the final phases of constructionand 6 are not functioning for various reasons.

Ex. Lefkimi ,Kerkyra (Corfu) public outcry and opposition

never opened the landfill. Public opposition to Lefkimilandfill has resulted in riots and death of local resident.

2 problem areas in mainland: Peloponnese and Evritania

PRESENT FRAMEWORK


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The 2002 number ofThe 2002 number of

illegal dumpsites andillegal dumpsites and

landfills was reportedlandfills was reportedat under 3000at under 3000

Currently, the estimatedCurrently, the estimated

number is at over 150number is at over 150

Illegal landfills


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Regional plans

Regional planning strategies still focus on final disposal with

little emphasis on adopting and implementing wasteprevention, preparation for reuse and recycling schemes.Focus remains on final treatment and regions have spentvery high amounts in short term quick fixes.

Lack of infrastructure in some regions : Baling transfer toother landfills and illegal dumping.

Tender process requests for large-scale infrastructure of

mixed waste and does not address issues and planning ofseparate collection and other more efficient processes (composting, separate collection, integration with recycling

centres, prevention, preparation for reuse)


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Geographic issues

Greece has many islands (large and small)

- Issues concerning land planning (landfills and zoning)

- Logistics and connections to the mainland (forRecycling plants and waste management)

There is a significant increase in population andtherefore, waste production in the summer months.

(ex. Myconos winter population 9000 in the summermonths 250000+)

This causes significant problems in logistics andpersonnel.


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Changes in charging methods

Significant obstacle to increased recycling rates in major urban areas was thecharging mechanism put in place. Local authorities using a specific landfill

were charged for access based on a % of their annual general budget(Attica area 6%). Regardless of the amount of waste they sent to landfill theamount was the same. As a result, there was no incentive to reduce thisamount.

Law 3854/2010 article 9 changes this: Local Authorities must now pay basedon tons sent to landfill from their collection of residual waste and the wastederived from their municipalities at the sorting centers.

This article is currently not being implemented:

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Recycling packaging waste

Although the systems are developing momentum incollecting quantities and geographical coverage some

problems have arisen.

The targets recycling targets are calculated on a smallerestimate than the actual waste packaging produced.

1.098 million tones Ministry estimate whereas

more conservative calculations have packaging a 1.4million tones


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Proposal by 4 NGOs for SWM

Ecorec, Medsos, Greenpeace, WWF proposed overall action planfor integrated sustainable waste management in Greece.

Redesign policies and prioritiesfocusing on prevention, reuse andrecycling (and not on final disposal)must be set for waste management.

Changes at organizational,administrative and functional levels atthe local, regional and national levels

and strategies and decisions must

take into account environmental

economic and social factors.

All this must be coupled with publicawareness!!!

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Proposal 4 NGOsEPR

Wider geographic coverage and augmentation of the

producer responsibility schemes. Creation of new extended producer responsibility

schemes for other waste streams (bulky waste, textiles,

dangerous household waste, construction and demolitionwaste)

ACTIONS WITH LOW COST INFRASTRUCTURE.

Creation of recycling islands/centers where residentscan bring back different waste streams.

Separate collection of at least paper/cardboard

Promotion of household composting12


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Proposal 4 NGOs

Management of Biowaste

Shredders and composting in all significant green spacesfor management of green waste from parks.

Acquisition of shredders for all LA to manage green wastecollected.

Separate collection of organic waste from households.

What about the rest:

Co-incineration of RDF and residual MBT plants whereenvironmental and social criteria is met

Final disposal once all the above criteria is met.

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Why this plan?

It respects the hierarchy and is the one with the

best environmental results (the most resourceefficient)

It has positive social impact it will create anestimated 2370 economically sustainable jobsdirectly and 1420 indirectly.

It is by far the most economical one (one 1/6 of the

cost in Attica)14


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Waste and the Economic Crisis

Effects of the economic crisis and waste production.

Overall estimates for Greece: Reduction of waste production: 2009-2010: 6.5%2010-2011: 8.5%

City of Athens: 26 % reduction in overall waste production from 1st

half of 2010 and 1st half of 2011.*Direct links: decrease in consumption therefore waste production

Indirect links: Emmigration to the countryside

Increase in ambulant scrap collectors collecting materials from recycling andwaste bins.

Source: Vice-mayor of Athens in charge of waste management. 15

ECOREC Waste Workshop Athens

Documents

Transcript of ECOREC Waste Workshop Athens