Santorini: 537 tonnes of recycling in July

Recycling collection in Santorini is on an upward trend, according to figures made public by the Municipality of Thira. In July 2026, 537 tonnes of unsorted recyclable material were collected, compared to 497 tonnes in July 2025 and 425 tonnes in July 2024.

The increase amounts to 40 tonnes compared to last year and 112 tonnes compared to two years ago, representing approximately 26% increase over two years for the same peak season month. The comparison is made between corresponding months to neutralize seasonality, which in Santorini is extremely pronounced: July and August generate multiple times the volume of waste compared to winter months, due to arrivals and operation of thousands of accommodations and food businesses.

Materials collected from the blue bins are transferred to the Recycling Material Sorting Centre, where they are separated by stream: paper, plastic, metal and glass. The portion that is not recyclable is removed as waste and sent to final disposal, burdening the island’s system and increasing final disposal costs, which in island areas are higher due to transport.

The municipality thanks residents and businesses that actively participate in the program and emphasizes that the quality of source separation determines the final result. This is the difference between the volume collected and the volume that actually returns to the production chain as secondary raw material. In Greek sorting centres, the waste percentage varies significantly depending on source separation quality, making household and business behavior a determining factor in the final result.

The instructions given by the municipal authority are specific: packaging must be empty of food and liquid residues and not mixed with regular waste. The larger the percentage of contaminants in the blue bin, the greater the amount that ends up as waste and the smaller the percentage actually recycled.

For Santorini, where the population multiplies in summer months and waste management is one of the most pressing infrastructure issues, the figures have practical significance. Every tonne diverted from final disposal reduces transport costs and the burden on the island’s facilities.

Corresponding initiatives are also being developed on other Cyclades islands, which face similar waste management pressures during the tourist season.