Corfu's Recycling Revolution Tackles Greece's Waste Crisis

As of November 2025, the municipality of North Corfu has launched a groundbreaking recycling initiative that is revolutionizing waste management on the Greek island. In a country where improper waste disposal is commonplace, Corfu's program has residents sort their waste into more than a dozen color-coded bins, including ones for paper, plastic, aluminum, clothing, and even cooking oil.

This innovative approach stands in stark contrast to Greece's overall recycling rate, which currently stands at only 20% of household waste—far below the European Union average of 48.2% in 2023. Corfu's recycling efforts have already saved the island's three municipalities around 15 million euros annually that would have been spent shipping waste to the mainland.

The program's success comes after a 2018 protest shut down Corfu's local landfill, leaving the island drowning in garbage. Inspired by grassroots recycling initiatives by local expatriates, North Corfu decided to implement its comprehensive sorting system, which has required extensive training of municipal personnel. Deputy Mayor Spyridoula Kokkali, who oversees the program, even spent the first two years of her term working on a garbage truck to ensure the new system was properly implemented.

While Corfu's recycling efforts have been a resounding success, other parts of the island still struggle with waste management. Some municipalities lack the dedicated recycling trucks to properly sort and collect the various materials, leading to mixed waste being transported to the mainland. Greece as a whole also faces pressure from the European Union to improve its waste management, with the country facing hefty fines for its history of illegal landfills.