Greek team’s efforts in events waste management in Polygyros
On 22 January 2025, the 4th meeting of the Greek team of the MINEV project, with the participation of stakeholders, took place in Thessaloniki at Coffice. The discussion focused on “Challenges and Suggestions for Waste Management in Big Events in Polygyros Municipality”.
This was a significant meeting, bringing together our stakeholder partner from Polygyros along with a team of environmental experts and event managers responsible for organising the municipality’s events throughout the year. A total of 13 participants attended to exchange experiences and best practices.
During the meeting, we shared insights gained from our partners at the project meeting in Krakow last November, while the Polygyros team presented their extensive waste management strategies implemented across all seasons. In particular, we discussed sustainable practices for Carnival celebrations in their region.
The event opened with welcoming remarks from Mrs. Anthoula Nikopoulou, project manager of the MINEV team from RCM. Mr. Giannis Lelegiannis, Deputy Mayor of the Municipal Unit of Ormylia and responsible for Culture and Tourism in the Municipality of Polygyros, provided insights into cultural event organization and waste management strategies. Mr. Vasilis Karatziovalis, President of the Municipal Committee for Education and responsible for European programs and innovation, elaborated on the municipality’s sustainable development policies through European initiatives.
Following this, Mrs. Valasia Kazlari, a local teacher, introduced an innovative educational project called “Blooming Paper,” emphasising the role of recycling as a learning tool. Mrs. Tasoula Asteiopoulou, Head of the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, discussed the role of local government in sustainability efforts within these sectors.
The discussion continued with Mr. Giorgos Diamantoulakis, Head of the Independent Department of Transparency and Public Relations, who addressed the “Reduce, Recycle, Reuse” approach, including the use of brown bins and recycling systems. Mrs. Voula Ougrenidou, Vice President of the Chalkidiki Health Runners Association, presented strategies for waste minimization in sports events in urban areas. Lastly, Mrs. Tania Gianniou, Head of the Department of Energy and Environment, spoke about food waste management and the implementation of the Food Wise Project in Polygyros Municipality.
The meeting concluded with a brief presentation by Mrs. Anthoula Ntota and Mrs. Eirini Patsourakou, who shared best practices from other MINEV project partners.
Looking ahead, we have scheduled our next meeting to take place in the Municipality of Polygyros, possibly during one of their upcoming events. Our ongoing commitment is to review and ensure adherence to best practices in waste management, ultimately contributing to the success of the MINEV project and enhancing sustainability efforts at local events.