North Corfu Municipality: 15+1 recycling streams

(North Corfu Municipality) The Municipality of North Corfu, as part of its comprehensive waste management strategy, and with an eye on future generations, implements, adopts and invests  in the model of 15+1 recycling categories, making recycling dominant in the pyramid of the circular economy.

This effort aims to minimise waste generation as much as possible, adopt and promote strategies that contribute to environmental protection, and support green development, while simultaneously fostering environmental and ecological awareness. This strategy and the accompanying methods that govern it, ultimately aimed at reducing the enormous cost of transporting the Municipality of North Corfu's waste to Palairos, were presented by the Deputy Mayor of Circular Economy, Cleanliness, and Environment, Spyridoula Kokkali, at Columbia University in New York on April 15, 2024, as part of the municipality's participation in the Waste Management Symposium, which is part of the GRis festival.

A New Era of Waste Management

The 20-year-old BLUE BIN IS NOW A THING OF THE PAST!

The 15+1 Recycling Categories of the Municipality of North Corfu:

• Yellow bin: Paper recycling with residue below 1%
• Red bin: Plastic recycling with residue below 2%
• Blue bin: Aluminum recycling with residue below 5%
• Bell-shaped bin: Glass with residue below 1%
• Purple bin: Clothing and footwear with 0% residue
• Lamp bins: Collection of all types of lamps with 0% residue
• Toner and ink bins: Inks and toners with 0% residue
• Portable battery bins: Batteries with 0% residue
• Metal: 0% residue
• Electrical and electronic devices bins: Recycling of electrical and electronic devices with 0% residue
• Large electrical appliances containers: Large electrical appliances with 0% residue
• Cooking oil bins: Cooking oils with 0% residue
• Mattresses: 0% residue
• Bulky waste: Furniture and large items with residue below 5%
• Composters: Household organic waste with 0% residue

Coming soon!

• Brown bin: Organic waste

Strategy

In 2019, the Municipal of North Corfu inherited a recycling rate of 0%. Today, it has reached 14%, and continues to grow. A 10% recycling rate translates into an economic benefit of €300,000, meaning that for every 1% increase in recycling, the Municipality gains €30,000. Through the local waste management plan approved in 2020, Mayor Giorgos Mahimaris proposed the creation of three Organic Waste Processing Units (MEVA)—one for each Corfu Municipality (North, Central, and South Corfu). This proposal is proving to be the most appropriate solution today, as the MEVA units will boost the efficiency of waste management and contribute to achieving higher recycling rates.

Supporting this is the unanimous decision made at the working meeting on September 12, which took place between the Regional Governor of the Ionian Islands, Yiannis Trepeklis, and the three Mayors of Corfu: Stefanos Poulimenos (Municipality of Central Corfu & Diapontia Islands), Giorgos Mahimaris (Municipality of North Corfu), and Vassilis Hiimariotis (Municipality of South Corfu). The decision concerns the construction of a single organic waste processing unit (MEVA) to serve all three municipalities, located in Central Corfu.

Excellent Results

In certain material categories, such as electrical and electronic devices, the Municipality of North Corfu has exceeded the targets set by the alternative waste management system based on our population, which is 15 tons per year. This success ranks the municipality at the top for recycling electrical and electronic devices, giving it a leading position in managing this category of waste.

Participation and Education

The Municipality of North Corfu works intensively to educate residents, both young and old, so that they actively participate in recycling and properly manage their waste. For this reason, ongoing educational activities are held at all levels of the municipality’s schools, from preschools to high schools. At the same time, the philosophy of reuse is systematically applied, thereby extending the lifespan of many items.

The Goal

The Municipality of North Corfu aims for the full utilisation of resources and the minimisation of waste to the lowest possible level. Through recycling, reuse, and the active participation of the public, the environment is protected, and the overall waste management costs are significantly reduced.

Photo: North Corfu Municipality