The Antiparos CAN Recycle programme paves the way for a more sustainable future for the island of Antiparos, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Greece. The small Cycladic Island has set up an innovative recycling station for aluminium cans, established in collaboration with the Every Can Counts Greece programme and designed by the award-winning studio Studiolav. Antiparos CAN Recycle is part of a pilot project based on the deposit return system (DRS) model. The programme aims to develop a circular packaging material management system that will contribute to climate neutrality through aluminium beverage can recycling, while creating an appealing art and recycling experience for users.
"Our main priority is to educate the locals and visitors of our island about the separate collection of packaging materials and inspire them to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle," said Antiparos Mayor Anastasios Faroupos at the launch event. He said that recycling is a prerequisite for building a healthier future for the next generations.
As Maarten Labberton, Director of the Packaging Group at European Aluminium, explained, “By January 1, 2029, the separate collection of aluminium cans across Europe must reach 90%. This is the only way to keep them in the loop. And there’s no better starting point for our environmental cycle than the Cyclades and Antiparos.”
The station is equipped with two state-of-the-art reverse vending machines that can collect and compress aluminium cans of all shapes and sizes. Featuring technology patented by the Finnish company Pure Recycle, they make it possible for small communities to recycle cans offering significant cost and space savings.
More than 20 local businesses have already joined the programme, offering rewards for recycled cans that can be redeemed via QR codes. Every time someone recycles a can the recycling station receives real-time updates on the total number of cans recycled on the island and the corresponding CO2 emissions saved.
“Antiparos CAN Recycle combines art with recycling, making it more accessible. The lifecycle of aluminium is a form of art, turning materials into something new and giving them new life over and over again, Since the machines were installed on the island for testing in late 2023, over 15,000 cans have been recycled,” said Eirini Topouzidou, programme manager of Every Can Counts in Greece.
All aluminium cans collected through the pilot system will be transported to Elval’s cast house for recycling in accordance with international standards. "We will process these cans at Elval’s aluminium plant in Oinofyta using the most modern methods,” said Konstantinos Katsaros, vice chairman of ElvalHalcor’s board of directors. “Within 60 days, they will become cans again and return to store shelves. We can help Antiparos achieve high recycling rates, and why not, become the first island in Greece to reach a 100% recycling rate."