The 59 million tonnes are reached by the annual production of food waste at the European Union level, while in Greece, according to Eurostat data, food waste across the food chain, from agricultural production to households, exceeds two million tonnes. Both at national and European level, half of them is produced in households, according to data presented by Dia Chorafa, a spokesman for the “We Can” organization and coordinator of the “alliance to reduce food waste”.

Speaking at the second regional promotion of the Citisystem project on the circular economy, Mrs Chorafa stressed that the extent of the problem of wasting food is great and spoke of a huge impact on economic level, at the level of waste management but also on whatever. It is about the moral and social dimension of the subject. “What has not been highlighted is the serious environmental dimension as it is estimated that 10% of greenhouse gas emissions is due to food waste, mainly due to methane releasing foods that end up in the dump,” he added.

In the face of this problem, in 2012 an attempt to reduce the waste of food and food insecurity in Greece, so that safe foods are directed for public benefit. “We are the intermediate link among food companies throughout Greece that cover the entire supply chain and we use surpluses (which is safe for consumption but cannot be used otherwise) and we direct them to public bodies throughout Greece. In popular markets we collect food that are in good shape but will not be able to be used the next day, “Ms. Chorafa said.

As he said, from 2015 until today they have collected over 1200 tonnes of fresh fruits and vegetables. Since 2012, food rescued and given public interest to people who belong to vulnerable groups of the population are 85 million portions, about 35,000 portions a day.

How does bio -waste collection evolve

At the event organized by the Central Macedonia Regional Development Fund and the Region of Central Macedonia as a cooperating policy authority, Theodora Paschalis, an environmental engineer and a spokesman for the Central Macedonian Solid Waste Management Authority.

In particular, he announced that the program began in 2023 when six municipalities gathered 73 tonnes and continued in 2024 during which 15 municipalities gathered 2,284 tonnes of bio -waste. In Central Macedonia there are three composting units in Skydra, Halkidiki and Halastra. At the same time last year, the first quantities of soil -container were produced, which were received by the municipalities of Veria, Propontis, Katerini, Thermi, Ampelokipi – Menemeni, Pylaia Chortiatis and Edessa, who work with tourist, tourist residents Popular markets and supermarkets.

The Citisystem project of Interreg Europe mentioned the Head of the Department of Scientific Support and Implementation of Sunday Kissa, stressing that his aim is to exchange experiences and develop skills to support policy improvements in order for the regions to use good practices for developing the development of cyclical development. .

For her part, the Director of the Central Macedonia Regional Development Fund, Chrysanthi Kiskin, spoke about the Fund’s partnerships under the program and the organization of the Economic Cooperation and Development Organization (OECD) in Central Macedonia in 2024.

What the OECD found for the circular economy in the region of Macedonia

“What the OECD officials have found is that there is a high level of innovation in Central Macedonia in terms of the circular economy but also a lack of coordination and overlapping responsibilities,” Ms Kiskin said, speaking to RES – EIA. In this context, he underlined the need to modernize the legislative framework. In particular, he said that there are innovative businesses in the area such as the Lagadas biogas that collects agri -food residues from the wider area but the question is how the research will go into the real market and become an innovative product or innovative service.

The event was welcomed by the Vice -Mayor of Culture and Sport of the Central Macedonia Region Christos Mittas.