Implementation and Evaluation of an Integrated Management Scheme for MSW in Selected Communities in Tinos Island, Greece

Abstract

Within Europe, more than 300 islands are inhabited by more than 3 % of the total EU population, i.e. 15 million residents live in areas experiencing permanent disadvantages and vulnerabilities, such as shortage of natural resources, economic and demographic stresses that pose additional pressure to environmental problems. Given that, waste management is considered one of the biggest challenges. This paper presents a comprehensive methodology on the development, implementation and evaluation of an integrated municipal solid waste management scheme in line with the Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC in selected communities of Tinos island (Greece). For the first time, in Greek insular communities, a holistic separate collection of dry recyclables and biowaste was implemented in order to facilitate recycling and further valorization of high-purity materials. The applied integrated solid waste management scheme proved to be efficient and effective as it led to satisfactory source separation rates of packaging waste, reaching 86.5 % of total packaging waste generated (including mixed paper). Moreover, approximately 15.5 kg cap−1 year−1 biowaste was captured and along with other local practices (e.g. use as animal feed), the total diversion rate from landfill reached 37.0 % of biowaste produced. Overall, the pilot scheme (including local practices) diverted from landfilling 34.2 % of the total Municipal Solid Waste generated, accounting for 148.2 kg cap−1 year−1. These results provided guidance to develop an up-scaled sustainable, cost-efficient and flexible waste management plan, using alternative scenarios, to cover the needs of the whole island.