Raising awareness on waste management in Thessaloniki events

The first raising awareness event within the MINEV project, titled "Issues and Waste Management Perspectives During Sports Events", was held on 25 June in Thessaloniki. It was organised by the Department of EU Programmes and Synergies of the Directorate for Innovation and Entrepreneurship of the Region of Central Macedonia.

The event saw participation from many representatives of organisations in Central Macedonia involved in managing major sports events, who are actively addressing the challenges of waste minimisation, management, and the implementation of cleaning and recycling measures.

The Vice-Regional Governor for Culture and Sports of the Region of Central Macedonia, Mr. Christos Mittas, discussed the challenges of waste management at major sports events and emphasised the importance of mutual agreement on sustainable development principles among all cooperating agencies and participants. He highlighted international practices that have been positively evaluated and could be adopted in Greece.

A common observation among participants was the disproportionate volume of waste produced compared to the volume recycled. It was widely accepted that implementing waste minimisation measures is both an individual and collective responsibility for a sustainable future.

Dr. Christos Karkanias, a postdoctoral researcher at the National Center for Research and Technological Development (EKETA), presented on waste management perspectives in large-scale events. He explained the importance of waste categorisation before, during, and after each event, along with solutions related to waste reduction and energy efficiency.

Mr. Dimitrios Pappas, Director of Administrative Support & Development of Y.M.C.A. Greece, discussed their environmental policy during major sports events. Y.M.C.A. actively participates in many environmental actions through European and other programs, such as "Actions to Strengthen Ecological Awareness and Volunteering in the Urban Environment."

Notable feedback was provided by other representatives of sports organisations and athletes, including Mr. Iordanis Papadopoulos, President of the TRIAS Sports and Cultural Association and Founder/Manager of TRIMAN. He presented challenges and proposals for waste management in triathlon competitions, highlighting the importance of employee training before and during the race.

Mrs. Olga Nikoltsou, organiser of the "Optimist" European Sailing Championship held in Thessaloniki from 15-22 July 2023, shared the challenges of minimising waste in open sea events. She proposed solutions for waste management in sea sports, such as continuing education and the use of technology in vessel cleaning and maintenance. Measures implemented during the championship to reduce environmental impact included:

• Reusable water bottles and filters in drinking water taps.
• Recycling bins provided by VIPA Group and the use of technology to reduce paper use (records, tallies, results, guidelines).
• Lunch cooler boxes and cloth bags.
• E-communication.
• Scheduled travel to reduce CO2 emissions and attempts to place all actions in close proximity.

Participants agreed on the necessity of a commonly accepted policy in the Region of Central Macedonia for waste minimisation before, during, and after large-scale sports events. They pledged to contribute to the efficient and functional formation of such a policy.