Tilos becomes world's first Zero Waste certified island

The Greek island of Tilos has become the first in the world to hold the Zero Waste Cities Certification after successfully eliminating its landfill. Through the ‘Just Go Zero Tilos’ project, the island transitioned from burying waste on hillsides to a comprehensive door-to-door collection system.

In collaboration with the circular economy company Polygreen and the Region of South Aegean, the island replaced street bins with a system where households and businesses use QR-coded bags for recyclables and organic waste. This initiative has resulted in a recycling and composting rate of nearly 90%, significantly exceeding Greek and EU averages.

All collected waste is processed at the Centre of Circular Innovation, located on the former landfill site. Approximately 60% of the 330 tonnes of annual waste is recyclable, 30% is organic, and the remaining 10% is used as fuel for cement factories. Organic waste is converted into fertilizer for local farmers, while other materials are sorted into 15 categories and shipped to the mainland as raw materials.