Antiparos is leading the way towards a circular economy by launching an innovative aluminium can recycling station. This project, coordinated by our initiative, Every Can Counts Greece (Kathe Kouti Metrai), and designed by the award-winning design studio Studiolav, combines practical recycling benefits with artistic value.
Every Can Counts Greece (Kathe Kouti Metrai), in collaboration with the Municipality of Antiparos, has initiated a pilot campaign to evaluate citizen engagement and return rates within the framework of a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS). The recycling station, inspired by Cycladic architecture and the distinctive attributes of aluminium, serves as both a functional recycling point and an art installation, creatively promoting the concept of a circular economy.
Antiparos residents of all age groups participated in the launch event. They learned about the initiative and engaged with the installed recycling machines, exchanging their drink cans for sustainable incentives and contributing to a charitable cause. The proceeds from recycling these cans will be donated to improve the sports facilities at Antiparos’ school, supporting the local community and encouraging sustainability.
The project’s mission is to establish a circular system for managing packaging materials on the island, striving for climate neutrality, and achieving a 100% recycling rate for aluminium cans. “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. Recycling is key to building a healthier future for the next generations,” said the Mayor of Antiparos, Anastasios Faroupos, during the launch event.
This initiative gains even greater significance in light of the new E.U. Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, which requires all member states to meet ambitious targets for the collection and recycling of packaging materials. 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.”
Recycling Blending Seamlessly with the Environment
Designed by Studiolav, the project integrates three key elements of Cycladic architecture—arches, stairs, and windmills—creating a seamless blend with the island’s natural landscape. “Made entirely from aluminium, the station shows how collective recycling efforts can be transformed into new,” explained designers Loukas Angelou and Vasso Asfi.
Real-Time Impact: Tracking the Number of Cans Recycled and CO2 Emissions Saved
Each time a can is recycled, the system provides real-time updates on the total number of cans recycled on the island and the associated CO2 emissions saved. It recognizes each can’s barcode, size, weight, and material, providing detailed data on the amounts of recyclable materials collected. The station features two state-of-the-art reverse vending machines from Finnish company Pure Recycle, capable of collecting and compressing aluminium cans of all sizes and shapes. This compact and efficient solution is designed specifically for small communities, offering significant cost and space savings.
“These cans will be brought to our factory in Oinofyta. They will be processed using the most modern methods, and in 60 days, they can 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 100%,” said Konstantinos Katsaros, Vice-chairman of the Board of Directors of ELVALHALCOR S.A.
Over 20 local businesses have joined the initiative, offering rewards for recycled cans that can be redeemed via QR codes. Since the machines’ installation at the end of 2023, more than 15,000 cans have been recycled, reflecting the community’s awareness and participation. “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,” said Eirini Topouzidou, programme manager of Every Can Counts in Greece.
All aluminium cans collected will be sent to the Greek aluminium industry for recycling, adhering to international standards to minimize energy consumption, waste, and emissions.
At the launch event on the island’s main pedestrian street, locals and visitors learned about the benefits of recycling and inaugurated the new station by recycling their cans. Sustainable gifts, including a RICICLETTA® bicycle made from 800 aluminium cans, were raffled off.
Watch the video of the launch event.