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The Municipality of Chania is introducing a novel incentive scheme that rewards residents for recycling used cooking oil with free parking credits and cinema tickets. Starting October 19, the city will begin distributing specialized collection containers to households as part of a broader push toward a circular economy.
This initiative involves the deployment of four smart systems valued at 310,000 Euro, financed through the Greece 2.0 recovery plan. These systems are designed to integrate enhanced sanitation services with real-time data while providing tangible rewards to participating citizens. Central to the project is the 'Epivravefsi Oso Petao' program—meaning 'rewarded as I throw away'—which encourages the segregated collection of household oils.
The municipal council has prepared 25,000 specialized green containers and installed nine ATM-style automated collection machines across the district. Residents are instructed to fill the containers at home and exchange full units for clean ones at the automated points. By registering on the program's official website, users accumulate points for every drop-off. These points can be redeemed for parking credit via the iPark application or for complimentary admission for two at the Kipos Municipal Cinema or the Chania Municipal Art Gallery.
Deputy Mayor for Environment Michalis Tsoupakis emphasized that the goal is to leverage technology to address practical, everyday challenges. He noted that the used oil collection scheme represents the next evolution in at-source waste sorting, following the city's implementation of brown bins, home composting trials, and green waste collection. Deputy Mayor for Finance and Digital Governance Tasos Aloglou added that the program is a continuation of digital upgrades initiated in 2019, stating that active citizen participation remains the decisive factor for success.
Container distribution will take place at Town Hall through late October, supported by information kiosks. Residents can also access the iWaste digital platform to locate bins via interactive maps and schedule collections. Furthermore, municipal crews and the waste management firm DEDISA are scheduled to conduct door-to-door e-waste collection on October 21. Chania currently processes over 250 tonnes of electronic waste annually, a critical effort given that e-waste is among the fastest-growing waste categories in the EU. This local push coincides with a national 6.4 million Euro investment by Greece to remediate landfill sites across several islands.
Source: Greek City Times