The Ecological Recycling Society is a non-profit, non-governmental organization with almost 30 years of experience in implementing sustainable waste management projects in Greece and abroad. Since 1990, it is the main NGO in Greece that addresses issues pertaining to sustainable waste management, and promotes through a variety of actions, waste prevention, re-use, recycling activities as well as actions supporting sustainable development within the framework of the Circular Economy locally and abroad.
ERS has implemented a variety of EU and national funded projects. EU projects related to waste management are HEC PAYT (LIFE07 ENV/GR/000271) aiming at the development of Pay as You Throw systems in Hellas, Estonia and Cyprus and also Life Building SPP project (LIFE10ENV/GR/000606) regarding Capacity Building in Sustainable Public Procurement.
The ERS is partner in the LIFE REWEEE (LIFE14 ENV/GR/000858) project whose aim is to set up 2 sorting and classification centres for preparation for reuse of WEEE.
The work done here is the first experience in the country for issues concerning preparation for reuse issues. This know-how will be a basis to broaden the scope from (W)EEE to several household waste streams, from classification and sorting to actual reuse and preparation for reuse centres which are the EGC’s (Enhanced Green centres). It also has set-up the first e-reuse centre in Greece Sumanewag – (LIFE00 ENV/GR/000688) and it was partner in the LIFE DEBAG(LIFE14 GIE/GR/001127)which was an important information campaign and awareness-raising to reduce the plastic bag in the marine environment. It has successfully implemented several nationally funded projects related to prevention, reuse and preparation for reuse.
Also, it has contributed to work on economic incentives including PAYT as a partner in the consortium for the Commission’s framework agreement for issues concerning waste ENV.A.2/FRA/2015/0008.
ERS has also launched the ECO Observatory, in order to contribute to the rapid achievement of much higher targets for prevention, preparation for reuse, recycling and composting. It is active in many legislative committees regarding issues of sustainable waste management and represents the NGO sector on the board of directors of the Hellenic Recycling Agency.
Finally, the ERS has implemented countless local, regional and national public awareness and dissemination campaigns for the promotion of sustainable waste management and has organized and carried out various conferences and workshops, promoting targeted communication and dissemination actions of sustainable waste management. Also, It is a member of national and EU networks (e.g.: RREUSE, Zero Waste Europe and ACR+).
