Tilos island wins European award for sustainable waste management

The remote island of Tilos has won the prestigious European Business Promotion Awards 2024 (EEPA), surpassing strong initiatives from Austria and the Netherlands, thanks to its groundbreaking “Just Go Zero Tilos” program. The European Commissioner praised the “moving effort of a small, remote island” in achieving this success.

The ceremony took place in Budapest on Tuesday, November 19, where the Greek entry stood out among 442 nominations from 29 countries. The program was awarded for its innovation, as it:

Introduced a comprehensive system for circular waste management.Achieved a 100% diversion of waste from landfills and 93% recycling.Engaged the entire local community in recycling, composting, and reuse activities.

Tilos Mayor Maria Kamma-Aleiferis thanked both the Governor of the South Aegean Region, Giorgos Hatzimarkos, and the CEO of Polygreen, Thanasis Polychronopoulos, and stated that the program is the result of the vision and planning of people “who believed in the idea of a world without waste.” She further added, “But for it to succeed, it had to become part of our community – and it did. The real champions are the people who implemented it: workers, children who, from the beginning until today, have given their best. This award belongs to them for their dedication, passion, and hard work.”