Pay-as-You-Throw (PAYT) for Municipal Solid Waste Management in Greece: On Public Opinion and Acceptance

Abstract

As municipal solid waste increases on a global scale, local and national governments strive for the implementation of efficient waste management systems in urban settings. The importance of the optimization of waste management lies with the fact that it constitutes a key step towards energy and material independence as well as the development of sustainable societies. In order for municipalities to fall in line with European legislations and strategies (i.e., European Green Deal, Waste Framework Directive, Sustainable Development Goals, etc.), they need to choose strategic, targeted schemes for adequate waste management, taking into account the area profile under investigation (i.e., population, demographic, public opinion, etc.). The present study investigates the level of knowledge of citizens regarding a pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) system in Greece. The aim of the investigation is to elucidate the attitude towards PAYT implementation within a socioeconomic context. A survey was conducted using an online questionnaire in 2021 while the results show valuable insight on the degree of public acceptance and understanding. At the same time, shortcomings (e.g., communication about the implementation from government and local authorities to citizens) have been pinpointed.