Important Factors Affecting Waste Recycling in Greece: The Case of Central Macedonia Prefecture

Effective recycling is the key issue for the sustainable management of Municipal Solid Wastes (MSW), to achieve the substantial decrease of their amounts requiring further management and landfilling. The basic concepts related to the effective management of MSW and recyclable materials (RM) are analyzed in this study, in order to find out the key factors for achieving increased recycling rates. A survey was developed and distributed to citizens of the Prefecture of Central Macedonia (PCM), the 2nd major prefecture of Greece. The now used recycling process for the collection of RMs in PCM, based on the Blue Bin system and the collection of mixed RMs, was tried to be evaluated in terms of the achievement of the recycle target goals. The main factors responsible for the low recycling yields (< 20%) were tried to be identified. A questionnaire was thus developed in order to identify the main issues for the low recycling rates. An emphasis has been given on the effective collection of plastic packaging, taking into account their great relation with particular environmental pollution problems. Sustainable management of recyclable materials was found to primarily depend on the environmental education level of the citizens. If their thorough understanding in the main issues of the established waste management systems (WMS) can be realized, their enhanced and active participation would be achieved. Citizens avoid plastic packaging only in case that is used in food products. Its harmful environmental effect is not widely known. The obtained results could aid to build up a sustainable Municipal Solid Wastes Management Plan (MSWMP) to further improve the dynamic attitude of the citizens towards an improved collection of RMs.