RECYCLING ON CYCLES

A.1. Situation and context: 

Cyprus has ratified the Aarhus Convention in 2001. Several legal and regulatory modifications have been made since then within the Cypriot legal framework, as conventional obligations of Cyprus to support the implementation and achieve the actual enforcement of the Convention’s provisions. However, six years after, the evaluation of the implementation of the Convention is not really encouraging. People are not properly informed on the exceptional rights that they are given by Aarhus Convention, so they do not protest when they are neglected by the authorities, when they are not given the right and the means to participate in decision making, when they are not given access to environmental information. Public participation in environmental decision making is still in very low levels and environmental NGOs often have to give fights even to have access to official and accurate environmental information (not to mention their right of participation in decision making).There is definitely an important gap on awareness raising of the public on the provisions of Aarhus Convention and the rights secured through these provisions. Citizens need knowledge on this subject in order to stand up for their rights. And NGOs need to join forces, built up partnerships and support this effort of the society.

Environment and sustainable development is usually considered as an "enemy" for business leaders in Cyprus. The possibility to develop a company, an economic activity based on sustainability principles is still something not accepted by the Cypriot entrepreneurs. Having tourism as one of the major economic activity of the country, the principles of sustainability seem to contradict the economic interests of the companies. There is need for information, for persuading that environmental responsibility can be "profitable" for the companies, in terms of marketing and actual economic savings (for example: saving water by introducing water recycling schemes (grey water) will lead to reduced water consumption bills etc). Through a dedicated awareness raising campaign and with the support and pressure of civil society, the companies can be persuaded in going greener or just "a bit" greener. They can by challenged to join the efforts of UN Global Compact and adopt the three "environmental" principles in order to realize the vision for a more sustainable and inclusive global economy.

The partners

• AKTI Project and Research Centre

• Posidonion Cultural and Information Centre,

• Culture Institute of the Morphou Bishopric, 

• KENTHEA Social Club of Cyprus Collage www.cycollege.ac.cy    

• Biologists Association

The project

The project is structured in two major phases:

Phase A: Preparation phase

1. Information material:

1.1 Gathering (and reproduction) of existing information material: several organisations, Governmental Authorities, Institutes etc have material relative to recycling and solid waste management (e.g. Environment Service has leaflets on recycling, AKTI has leaflets and booklets on composting, the Cyprus Recyclers etc). This material will be located and used after the necessary permissions, and re-produced if needed. This is an indirect way for expanding the partnership, since more organisations will become part of the effort of the project by providing material for "recycling on cycles"). At the same time duplication of the effort is avoided.

1.2 Development of information material: Οne information leaflet will be produced. The information material will be based on the three principles of the European Union (http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/index.htm):

•      Waste prevention

•      Reuse and recycling

•      Improving final disposal and monitoring

with emphasis on recycling and with strong reference on the Aarhus Convention and the UN Global Compact principles.

1.3 E-information: AKTI"s website will include a new page with information on the project (advertise activities etc) and information on Aarhus Convention, UN Global Compact and other relevant information. Existing sites will be searched in order to include information on "recycling on cycles" (such as the under development website of the Cyprus Environmental Stakeholder Forum). Information on the project will be included in the e-newsletter that will be produced under the project "Partnership for a sustainable future", funded by UNDP-ACT Networking and Partnership Grant.

1.4 Promotion material: production of promotion material: t-shits, cloth bags, pencils, bookmarks etc

1.5 CDs and DVDs will be located with documentaries related with solid waste management and recycling. The CD/DVDs will be used during the campaign.

2. Preparation of the Mobile Information Centre:

Purchase, modify and equip the caravan

3. Training of the staff on-board: a group of young scientists will be on-board. They will be supported by the experienced staff of AKTI. AKTI (G/C NGO) and Biologists Association (T/C NGO) will have the responsibility for operating the Centre. The young people of KENTHEA Social Club of Cyprus College will form a group of volunteers who will support the group on-board.

Phase B: the awareness raising phase

4. The Mobile Information Centre will start travelling around the island.

The major target groups will be visited on-the-spot. Information will be distributed, demonstrations on different ways of recycling (recycling at home (home-composting), in the neighbourhoods, in factories, etc), films and music are some of the activities that will be organised during the visits of the caravan, depending on the group that will be visited. Program with caravan’s visits will be publish soon in this website and in newspapers.

5. Help desk: the Mobile Information Centre will operate as an on-the-spot Help Desk. AKTI will host at its office and run a help desk through telephone and internet, which will provide the citizens with information on where to apply for information on specific issues related to solid waste management and recycling, the processes on how to claim for their rights according to the Aarhus Convention, the ways for achieving active participation in the decision making. The Help Desk will be supported by the entire partnership.

You find the project interesting? You need more information on recycling, Aarhus Convention and UN Global Impact? CONTACT US!

The project is funded by UNDP - ACT