Environment and recycling

Oktober 2018

Who is moved by looking in a trash can? I am. I was photographing some recycling bins on the crossroad Panormos/Elios/Glossa -ringroad to show that there are now more places where the bins are. After photographing the bins I had a look inside and I saw that the bins were almost full… and I was moved.

Sklavenitis supermarket

Some more bins are placed in front of the gym hall on the ring road and at the mayor’s office. There is no excuse now. Let’s recycle !!!

https://www.gogreenrecycling.org/

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Thedogoodgroup of Skopelos
The initiative to help clean the island comes from Mr. George Michaelis. He himself has set up cleaning initiatives several times in the past. Today another clean up action was organised and over 20 friends of Skopelos turned up. The car park, the part of the harbour where cargo ships dock, the ramp where boats get in and out of the water and the town beach were cleaned. Over 30 bags of garbage were filled in two hours. It was like a flash mob action but without the music. We had a great time.

There is more to do so we have formed a messenger groep called:The do good group of Skopelos. Here you can give the group your ideas of what we can do next, when and how. New ideas how to stop people to litter. Help with recycling etc. Anybody that is in the group can see instantly a message or comment and can give a reaction. Hopefully many great initiatives like the one from George will follow. Best shop provided bags and gloves. Spyrou Skopelos experience provided tools. Anybody that wants to join, let me know. I will add you.

Cargo dock in harbor

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May 2016

Skopelosnews met up with Apostolis who is trying to set up a recycling plant. This time his truck had a sticker on the front and the side saying go green recycling Skopelos. Apostolis is already gathering old cars, broken electric appliances and iron. Within a couple of weeks containers will be placed for glass, paper, carton, plastic, oil, batteries, lamps Apostolis told me.
A leaflet will be handed out with instructions about what can be recycled and what not. Skopelosnews will also visit the plant very soon.

Good luck Apostolis!

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January 2015

Glossa is going green.

In a joint initiative between the Town Council, the Volunteers Office of Skopelos, the organisation White Butterflies of Volos and both the Junior and Senior schools in Glossa, there will be a new recycling station located by the High School in Glossa. Everything that is put in the containers will be collected and sent off for recycling in Volos

Three new containers will be placed near the bus stop / kiosk by the main Glossa – Skopelos road, outside of the High School gates to accept plastic bottle caps, plastic bottles and aluminium drink cans for recycling. It is important that the correct item is put in the correct container, and if possible, both plastic bottles and aluminium cans are flat before deposit.

Also it is important that plastic bottle caps are separated from the bottles as they are different kinds of plastic.

This is a trial process in co-operation with White Butterflies of Volos, a charity which provides amenities for children with special needs. If it proves successful, during the summer we will make direct agreements with the recycling companies and all the proceeds will come back to Glossa and used to provide essential items for the school, as well as contributing to the cost of excursions for the pupils.

On 31 January the Parents Committee of the schools will be holding a ‘cake cutting’ ceremony in Glossa, and there will also be a discussion on the benefits of recycling, and how it will improve both the village and the island. Researching the scale of the problem of plastic bottle waste indicates that Glossa alone produces around 165,000 empty 1.5l water bottles during the summer. The island as a whole therefore may increase this to around half a million.

Further information can be obtained from Tony on 69479 86671

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September 2014
Carrefour supermarket on the road to Stafylos has placed 2 new boxes for recycling near the entrance. The first one is for lamps etc. and we know that you can also depose of them at the town hall,

but finally there is an official box for smaller electric appliances. There is an image on the box which shows laptops, irons, tv controls, toasting machines, coffee machines etc.

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August 2012

We posted a while ago about the new glass recycling program in Skopelos and started a list of locations. Little by little the town has placed more of these blue collection containers around the island. Skopelosnews would like to collect a list of locations of the containers for the convenience of our readers. If you know of one which isn’t listed below, please tell us in the comments section and we will update the list as we get new information. Thanks!
More in Glossa, Palio Klima, Nea Klima ?

Glass Recycling Containers

* Far end of Paralia Skopelos
* Next to Town Hall at the Vrachos steps
* Bus Station Skopelos
* At he fork in the road by the Ancient Asklepion
* Near entrance to Prince Staphylos Hotel
* Outside Karyatis Summer Bar
* Next to entrance to Skopelos Super Market
* At the stop sign opposite Nastas
* Opposite Karydia Ouzerie
* Next to the Health Center entrance
* Near Michelis Glass Shop (!) Top of Ring Road Skopelos
* Carpark AB Supermarket road Stafylos
* At the top of the road at Stafylos
* 3 are placed on the road in Panormos
* Outside Adrina Hotel in the next bend
* At Limnonari beach
* In the main street of Elios
* Outside Yannis Supermarket Glossa
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What is Natura 2000 ?

Natura 2000 is the centrepiece of EU nature & biodiversity policy. It is an EUwide network of nature protection areas established under the 1992 Habitats Directive. The aim of the network is to assure the long-term survival of Europe’s most valuable and threatened species and habitats. It is composed of Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) designated by Member States under the Habitats Directive, and also incorporates Special Protection Areas (SPAs) which they designate under the 1979 Birds Directive. Natura 2000 is not a system of strict nature reserves where all human activities are excluded. Whereas the network will certainly include nature reserves most of the land is likely to continue to be privately owned and the emphasis will be on ensuring that future management is sustainable, both ecologically and economically.The establishment of this network of protected areas also fulfils a Community obligation under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.

Natura 2000 applies to Birds Sites and to Habitats Sites, which are divided into biogeographical regions. It also applies to the marine environment.

The Natura 2000 Barometer gives updated statistical information on the progress in establishing the Natura 2000 network, both under the Birds and the Habitats Directives.

from: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/index_en.htm

Environment minister waters down bill

Reform allows landowners with 0.4 hectares to build in Natura-protected areas

Environment Minister Tina Birbili on Wednesday heralded a legislative amendment that would allow all landowners possessing less than 0.4 hectares (4 stremmata) in areas protected by the European Union’s Natura 2000 program – a network designed to protect threatened habitats and species – to build on these plots as long as they have been legally registered by March 1.

The amendment is a watered-down version of Birbili’s original bid to curb construction in conservation areas. It comes two months after MPs on Parliament’s environmental affairs committee, including several deputies of ruling PASOK, rose up against the minister when she sought to raise the minimum limit for construction to one hectare (10 stremmata) of land from building in Natura-protected areas.

Still the concession failed to win over opposition MPS. Deputies of the main conservative opposition New Democracy and of the far-right Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) said they would vote against the bill in its current form. One concern regards certain legal barriers to registering plots of land. Deputies of the Communist Party (KKE) and the Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA), on the other hand, called for stricter regulations to protect areas of natural beauty.

Birbili defended the revised bill. “This reform demonstrates our determination to regulate construction outside the town plan while also guaranteeing the fair treatment of landowners possessing plots smaller than one hectare,” the minister said.

from: http://www.ekathimerini.com/

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Yes, something is happening on Skopelos. Old refrigerators, toasters and other old and broken electric appliances are recycled. Call the mayor’s office and ask them when you can put them on the street and they will be collected and transported to one of the local transport companies who will bring all of it to the mainland and there it will be recycled.

Cooking oil that has been used for frying in restaurants etc. is collected in the old harbor of Skopelos and is transported when full. Household oil can be brought there too we think….