Expected/Achieved results

The collected food waste in the brown bins was of excellent quality (less than 2% impurities) and this was attributed to the information campaign of the participants in addition to restricted brown bin access only for informed citizens.  Less than 15% of the total generated household waste by the participants ended up in landfill in a period of three years.

This framework has been expanded to the general population for a compartment corresponding to 10% of Halandri’s population.  Approximately 50% of the HFW (Household Food Waste) was diverted from landfill within only 6 months. Now the Municipality is planning the expansion to cover the whole city.

LCA (Life Cicle Assessment) and LCC (Life Cicle Costing) models proved that the HFW valorization scenario for the production of biogas and compost from the digestate is better performing both in environmental and economic terms.

Long term goals

Greece has established a target to divert 50% of MSW (Municipal Solid Waste) from landfills by 2025, hence food waste which corresponds to approximately 40% of the MSW could play a major role towards this goal. Moreover, HFW which as mentioned corresponds to the majority of the MSW and has huge potential for valorization towards the production of high added value products.  It is the most under-managed fraction globally. The Municipality of Halandri aspires to be transformed from a biowaste producing municipality to a biomass generating one enhancing its environmental and economic performance.

Main indicators

The goal of Waste4think was to increase source separation of food waste and enhance valorization alternatives to produce high added-value energy carriers and resources.

Hence, the main indicators of the project were:

• % increase of food waste source separation and diversion from landfill (50% achieved within 6 months of operation for thw the municipal sector where it was applied)
• % decrease in waste management costs (36% reduction in anticipated upon implementation for the whole city)
• % decrease in waste management environmental impact (up to 80% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions)

Responsible organization in charge of actions

Main stakeholders involved in the planning and implementation of the action

Main investor

If available/relevant please specify also the share of public and private funding: EU

Necessary preconditions for best practice implementation

• Citizens awareness raising
• Separate collection of food waste
• Restricted access to brown bins (locked bins) only by informed citizens
• Keeping the citizens informed of the overall evolution of the plan
• Securing the necessary funds for building the appropriate facilities for valorizing the collected biowaste (required for the second part of the practice, namely the valorization)

Main challeges encountered during planning, implementation and monitoring

• to convince the City Council to undertake the project and overcome the skepticism and/or objections of the opposition
• to overcome the delays caused by the bureaucracy of tendering to buy the needed equipment (bins, trucks, dryer/shredder, pilot-plant equipment, analytical equipment)
• to train properly the involved personnel for the collection, drying/shredding, pilot-plant operation)

Preconditions for replication

The main precondition is the political willingness of the municipality and its commitment to pursue such a plan which involves campaigning and proper management at local level.