Galatsi, Greece

Creative Thinking Development in collaboration with the
Municipality of Galatsi organized the 4th international
meeting, titled “Green and/or Biodegradable household
waste”, of the project SWAI – Sharing working algorithms
for urban/rural waste collection”, under the Programme
for Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV).
The event was hosted in the conference hall of the cultural
centre of Galatsi Municipality “To Kamini”, a restored
Hoffmann continuous work lime kiln, and lasted from
April 15 until April 17, 2024.

The morning of the first day of the meeting was devoted to the ongoing
activity of compiling the project’s final intellectual output, the “Algorithms for reduction of waste” guide, in a workshop where partners from Bulgaria,
Poland, Malta, Belgium and Greece presented best practices from their
counties that will be presented in the Guide.
Later on the same day the same day the international participants visited the 2nd Kindergarten of Galatsi, where the small children with the support of the school administration and teachers, as well as the active participation of their parents, are composting their organic waste and use the compost in the kindergarten yard. This practice was initiated and supported by the project “Green Ambassadors”, funded by the Green Fund and implemented by CRETHIDEV in collaboration with the municipality of Galatsi.

The second day was devoted to the field visit to the largest Integrated Urban Solid Waste Management Area, which is the largest of its kind in Europe and serves the entire agglomeration of the metropolitan Athens area.
The facilities are owned by EDSNA, an organization that unites two levels of local and regional administration (the Region of Attika and the municipalities of Athens agglomeration) and operated by public services and private subcontractors.
Partners had the chance to meet and discuss with the staff of the different facilities they visited as well as to tour the facilities of the Incineration Plan for Medical and Toxic Wastes (serving the entire country), the active Landfill and restored old non-regulated landfill sites, the Leachate Treatment facilities and the Mechanical Separation & Composting Plant.

The last day of the meeting was
devoted to the conference "Valorising
Domestic Biowaste and Grassroots
Initiatives“. The conference was
addressed by the Mayor of Galatsi and
President of the Union of Greek
Municipalities, Mr. George
Markopoulos, many elected officials
and CRETHIDEV Administrator Mr.
Dimosthenis Papakonstantinou.
Partners presented who organic and/or
biodegradable household waste is
treated in each country. Of special
interest were the presentations of
EDSNA Deputy Director for Thermal
Processing Mr. George Arvanites, and
the keynote lecture on “Biowaste
Production and Management” given by
Prof. Monika Jakubus, Poznań
University of Life Sciences, Poland.
The conference was attended by more
that 90 persons including students from
Galatsi High Schools and employees of
the municipality.