Perspectives for integrated municipal solid waste management in Thessaloniki, Greece.
Local authorities need updated and reliable data on the quantity and the quality of the waste generated in their area, in order to establish an integrated solid waste management system capable of fulfilling regional and national waste management targets. This paper presents information about the quantity and the characteristics of the municipal solid waste generated in Thessaloniki, which is the second largest city in Greece. It is based on the results of three research programs investigating the evolution of municipal solid waste. The investigations were carried out over the last 20 years at the landfill of Thessaloniki by the same research group using statistically acceptable practices for sampling and hand sorting. The results show a great increase in the incoming quantities during the last years and a significant increase of the per capita generation. There is also a significant change in the composition, demonstrated mainly by a decrease in the organic fraction followed by an increase of packaging materials (paper and plastic).
Papachristou
E
E
Laboratory of Environmental Engineering and Planning, Division of Hydraulics and Environmental Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece.
Hadjianghelou
H
H
Darakas
E
E
Alivanis
K
K
Belou
A
A
Ioannidou
D
D
Paraskevopoulou
E
E
Poulios
K
K
Koukourikou
A
A
Kosmidou
N
N
Sortikos
K
K
D002947:Cities; D003625:Data Collection; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005843:Geography; D005898:Glass; D006115:Greece; D008670:Metals; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D010209:Paper; D010969:Plastics; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014866:Waste Products / Q000032:analysis* / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D008670:Metals; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D010969:Plastics; D014866:Waste Products