The Greek city of Egaleo is actively developing its bio-waste recycling initiatives through the Bin2Bean project. The city is playing a crucial role in supporting the experimentation and data-gathering objectives of the project’s Living Labs (LLs), while promoting the active participation of the citizens.
To meet the project objectives, the local community has built a robust operational infrastructure. A total of 120 bins have been deployed across selected areas of the city for pilot collection, carried out four times per week (two days per route) and handling approximately 30 to 40 tons per month. Logistics rely on two trucks (one electrical), both managed by a single driver. In addition, 400 household bins and 2,000 paper bags have been distributed among users, including 100 households from the “Rock the Block” project, students and their families, municipal employees, and citizens volunteering for bio-waste recycling.
The Municipality has also integrated the program into the local educational system. Eleven schools have participated in seminars on recycling and composting, where kitchen bins were provided to both students and staff. An incentive program is in place, rewarding the three schools producing the best compost with monetary prizes.
Egaleo’s primary contribution to the Bin2Bean Living Labs lies in its direct community engagement, workshops, and active data collection through experimental frameworks.
In March 2025, an open day on bio-waste collection gathered around 30 participants from diverse backgrounds, including local authority representatives, former and current deputy mayors, teachers, and pilot household members. Following this, a composting workshop was organized.
To reward citizens’ participation and encourage continued engagement, the Green Spaces Department distributed compost fertilizer bags free of charge in July 2025, further reinforcing the city’s commitment to a circular economy.
A key aspect of the Living Lab activities is the collection of behavioural and preference data. The Choice Experiments are currently active, with surveys distributed among schools, municipal employees, and pilot households. By the end of Saptember 2025, around 50 participants had completed the survey, and a second data collection phase was planned to follow the reopening of schools after the summer break.
Future developments
Egaleo is now focusing on exploring innovative approaches to enhance accountability and engagement within its Living Lab framework. The municipality is currently discussing possible future initiatives such as:
- Exploring the future implementation of a Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) system, expected to become mandatory in Greece by 2028.
- Investigating options for waste source identification, including potential use of bin locks or tagging systems to better understand waste generation patterns.
- Holding strategic discussions with the local community on practical methods to introduce fair charging systems, raise awareness, and maintain long-term citizen engagement.
Ultimately, the successful deployment of the bio-waste collection and recycling strategy in the city will depend on political decisions to be taken in the near future.