Cultural societies and other organizations ‘roll up their sleeves’ to get going with recycling

Following the discussion and exchange of ideas, as well as specific proposals from the organizations and cultural societies, it was decided to hold another meeting no later than in a week’s time. A three-member committee was set up to organize the meeting. The urgent need for a solution to the burning issue of recycling and waste reduction has led to concerned residents taking the initiative of making themselves available to the local authority and contributing with concrete proposals to solve this problem which concerns the whole of Corfu.

The following proposals were made:

Actions to be undertaken by the cultural societies and other bodies:

1. Dissemination of Information to members of the public (members, friends, etc).

2. Supervisors to monitor each collection spot.

3. Participation in information events at schools and similar places (scouts, evening schools etc.).

4. Organization of and participation in targeted information events relating to recycling.

5. Professional bodies to convince their members to implement waste separation based on the specifically agreed collection system, e.g. large hotels and businesses to immediately start separating more recyclable items based on the capability of the Municipality, and to commit themselves to this (as well as other flexible recycling systems).

IMMEDIATE MEASURES

Our discussion is based on the assumption that mixed waste collection will be carried out normally as experience has shown that when the green rubbish containers are full, people deposit their mixed waste in the blue containers.

1. The routes and frequency of recycling collection vehicles to be set up according to the number of containers (for now only the blue ones and the “bell-bins”).

2. The establishment of separate collections depending on the volume of waste in other coloured bins.

3. Recycling personnel to be administratively and organizationally independent.

4. (If it hasn’t already been done) immediate basic training of employees by organizations with a developed knowledge of recycling (Municipality or EEA).  

5. Special uniforms (a different colour of phosphorescent vests from the other cleansing services personnel) to be provided immediately in order to avoid any later bureaucratic delays.

6. Immediate increase in the number of available vehicles and/or routes and frequency.

7. Request to the Greek Rewarding Recycling Company (and TEXAN Recycling Centres) for the supply of at least 3 rewarding recycling boxes.

8. Request to the Greek Recycling Company for the immediate provision of equipment (mainly vehicles and containers) which will be required due to the increase in the amount of recycled materials.

9. 2018 targets - monthly, basic and reviews. Comparison of results with 2017. Monthly progress reports with positive and negative points noted as well as general remarks.  

The following cultural societies participated:

Potamos, Gouvia, Afra, Temploni, Pan. Sparmiotissa, Kato Korakiana, Viros, Barbati, Sinies, Karousades, Arillas, Avliotes, Afionas, Arkadades, Benitses, Argyrades, Perivoli, Neohori, Lefkimmi.

The following organizations also participated:

Chamber of Commerce, Hotel-Owners Association, Federation of Tourist Accommodation & Rental Apartments, Restaurateurs Association, Society of Commerce, Greek Red Cross, Scouts, Greek Guiding, ‘All together for Corfu’, Tourist Agents, Hotel Managers Association.

Voluntary Initiative ‘All together for Corfu’ Press Release:

“Judging from the response (nobody refused to come) we are sure that there would have been more of us if we had had the time to invite more and we would like to apologize to the societies that we did not have enough time to call. They can be sure that it does not mean that we do not count on them or that we have a special role in this initiative. We want everyone to be in the front line”.