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Καθαρή Πράσινη Άνδρος

Καθαρή Πράσινη Άνδρος

  • Home
    • The project
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    • Supporters
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2021
Home Archive by Category "2021"

Category: 2021

2021News stories
December 29, 2021

Is the Andros coast affected by global plastic pollution?

Andros participation in global environmental research

The Clean Green Andros project, with the help of local and visiting volunteers, participated in the global hunt for the tiny plastic beads (nurdles) as part of the global environmental research event “The 2021 Great Global Nurdle Hunt”, organized by the British environmental organization Fidra.

This annual research, which lasted all of October, is carried out every year and motivated us, volunteer groups and individuals, to collect nurdles (plastic beads) on our beaches and submit our findings. This global investigation into nurdles aims to reduce the amount that ends up in our seas and beaches, as they have escaped from the global industrial production and supply chain processes. To learn more about the leakage of these tiny plastic pellets into the environment, read our previous article here.

“The 2021 Great Global Nurdle Hunt” involved a total of 925 volunteers from 23 countries, with 274 recorded actions. Plastic beads were found in 21 out of 23 countries surveyed, that’s 91%.

 

Clean Green Andros volunteers participated on behalf of Andros by “hunting” these nurdles and recording the findings. Our research took place on six beaches: Ateni (both beaches), Zorgos, Chrysi Ammos, Fellos and Kourtali. Nurdles were found on every one of these Andros beaches, some less and others more. Even Andros and the Greek seas are affected! You can see the results of our findings, posted by Fidra on their world map, along with the results of other organizations and individuals from around the world.

The findings of this significant global study were presented at the United Nations Conference on Climate Change in Glasgow COP26 on November 9, 2021, in the presence of 25,000 delegates from 200 countries and approximately 120 Heads of State.

Megan Kirton, Fidra, says, “Nurdles are an example of how plastic pollution is adding to pressures already faced by ecosystems and coastal communities today. Reducing plastic and chemical pollution is vital if we are to address the dual biodiversity and climate crises”.

Finally, the pollution caused by the leakage of these nurdles into the natural environment is a huge issue. This leakage is a waste of energy and mineral wealth, as these materials end up in nature before even being used, and It is almost impossible to remove them due to their tiny size.

Would you like to participate in any actions to help Andros become greener and cleaner? Why not become a volunteer for Clean Green Andros here.

Read More
By Katerina
2021News stories
December 24, 2021

Wishes for Merry Christmas & A Joyful New Year!

Dear Friends,
Thank you for all your support this year!
The Andros Routes & Clean Green Andros volunteers and the Andros Research Center management team
Wish you health, happiness, prosperity, love and joy for this Christmas
Hope that the new year is full of many, beautiful hikes on the paths and high peaks of Andros!
And hope that 2022 is the year that Andros will become not only the greenest but also the cleanest island in the Cyclades!

 

Read More
By Katerina
2021News stories
December 22, 2021

Suzie Young: helping Andros become cleaner and greener!

One of our Clean Green Volunteers from the Cyclades Preservation Fund/British Embassy Fund initiative. 

 Suzie came to Andros to help the Clean Green Andros Project. Her contribution to the vision for a cleaner and greener Andros was fantastic. She worked for 18 days in total. She collected garbage and nurdles from the beaches of Kourtali, Fellos, Ateni and Zorgos. She also helped clean some of the Andros Routes – path number 9 and the Tromarchia Circular during two Andros Routes maintenance hikes.

Her other contributions included  mapping and recording all the recycling bins on the island. This action completed a significant project initiative to validate the waste services location information for everyone on Andros. Thanks to Suzie’s contribution,  it is easy to find out what and where you can recycle on Andros. See more here.

Suzie, a Digital Strategy Consultant, also shared her professional knowledge and skills to support the project.

Finally, she participated in a new project research campaign by conducting interviews to find out the views of a few of our Andros locals about waste management.

Suzie, we sincerely thank you! 

Καθαρισμός στο Ατένι

Supporting Suzie’s trip on Andros, we would like to  thank :

  • The Cyclades Preservation Fund – Anni Mitropoulou and Kelly Garyfalli for their support and cooperation with  the Cyclades Green Volunteers program
  • The British Embassy supported by the CPF for the Cyclades Green Volunteers program
  • Filippos Perrakis for hosting a meeting at Perrakis Hotel
  • Andros Rent-a-Car and Euro Rent-a-Car for providing better  car rental prices 
  • The Paint shop Dimitris Vlamis for materials and tools
  • Tim Newman, Petros Freris, Dimitris & Charlotte Galanou, Maria Karasavva, Maria Theocharidou for the interviews.

Want to contribute? 

  • Check here how you can help.
  • Share the article on your Social Media by clicking the button at the bottom of the page and help more people find out about the project.
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By Katerina
2021News stories
October 6, 2021

Is Batsi beach clean? Part 2!

The big microplastic problem 

On the issue of the quality of the natural environment, sometimes things are not so obvious. The fact, for example, that we can’t see any waste after a beach clean up doesn’t mean that the area is free of pollution. 

At the Batsi beach clean that the Andros  Port Authority organized on September 28, 2021, plenty of microplastics were found, which is a perfect moment to talk about them. 

What are microplastics?

Have you heard of microplastics? What are they?  And what are nurdles?

Plastic is the most common type of waste found in our seas. Plastic debris can come in all shapes and sizes, but if it’s smaller than five millimetres in length (about the size of a lentil), it’s classed a microplastic. 

Microplastics are tiny plastic fragments, no larger than 5 mm, they are difficult to find, yet they are almost everywhere! Plastic breaks into little pieces. Over time, the sun and heat turn plastics into smaller pieces until they eventually reach tiny sizes.

Microplastics are in the water, and they are eaten by fish that think they are food; they end up in our bodies through the food chain. Microplastics have been found for the first time in the human placenta. They have been found in the most isolated parts of the planet, in the Arctic Ocean (in the North Pole!) and the Mariana Trench, the deepest part of the oceans. And if these places seem too far away and you think they don’t concern you, then look more closely at the sand where your children play the next time you go to the beach. There was a lot of microplastics on Batsi beach. 

So what are nurdles?

Nurdles or plastic pellets are pieces of plastic about the size of a lentil, so by definition, they are considered microplastics. Nurdles are the first step in the process of making any plastic thing. Your plastic containers, bags, and bottles were all once nurdles. Every nurdle is created to be melted down and turned into a plastic product used by humans. These pellets are the building blocks used to make almost every plastic product we use today, from plastic packaging to car parts.

Why do we find nurdles on the beaches and in nature in general?

At any stage of the industrial process or their transport, usually by sea, these tiny beads can escape as they are small, light and float. Globally, it is estimated that 230,000 tonnes nurdles per year end up in the sea.

Are they dangerous?

Yes, they are dangerous. Animals and fish eat them, thinking they are food. In addition, once nurdles are found in the sea, they attract and accumulate chemical pollutants. They become a potential source of toxic chemicals. And not only that: plastic pellets provide an environment in which bacteria can form, which in turn can host pathogenic microorganisms, such as the harmful to humans Escherichia coli (E.coli).

What can we do about the problem of microplastics?

Reduce plastic use! If we don’t change our habits now, if we do not reduce the use of plastic in general, neither we nor the planet will survive. The paradise of Andros is endangered –  for us and future generations. We must acknowledge that the sea and land mirror our daily lives. 

Become a pioneer, invest in alternative and sustainable solutions and get plastic out of your life for a cleaner and greener Andros!

Simply reduce PLASTIC!

Would you like to know more? Read https://www.nurdlehunt.org.uk/the-problem.html

Do you want to take part in actions for a cleaner and greener Andros? Stay tuned to the Social Media of Clean Green Andros.

https://www.facebook.com/cleangreenandros

https://www.instagram.com/cleangreenandros/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/andros-research-center

Read More
By Katerina
2021News stories
September 29, 2021

Is Batsi beach clean?

Batsi had a beach clean yesterday, the 28th of September, coordinated by the Andros Port Authority. This clean up was part of the “Ocean Conservancy” global voluntary shore cleaning campaign, coordinated here in Greece by HELMEPA, the Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association, a voluntary organization of Greek seafarers and ship owners to safeguard the seas from ship-generated pollution. The Andros Municipality, the Batsi Primary School 6th Grade, Andros Routes, and Clean Green Andros teams participated in this action along with many volunteers. 

The Port Master spoke to the pupils about the importance of volunteering. The Primary School Principal stressed that everyone should keep the beach clean by throwing their waste and trash straight into the bins every day. A volunteer of the Clean Green Andros project talked about microplastics and nurdles, which were found in abundance on the beach! 

According to the Port Authority, a total of 50 kg of waste was collected, of which 35kg were recyclable. And yet, at first glance, the beach looked clean! 

Actions like the beach clean are essential and have many benefits. As well as collecting the waste, organizations, citizens and pupils are mobilised for the common good, and the importance of volunteering in our lives is highlighted. 

We would like to thank the Port Authority for the invitation to support this event and the local authorities for their cooperation. Congratulations to all the pupils and volunteers who took part in this action!

Follow us on Facebook & Instagram and be the first to hear our news and actions!

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By Katerina
2021News stories
September 27, 2021

Παράκτιος καθαρισμός παραλίας Μπατσίου

Στο πλαίσιο πρόληψης του Λιμεναρχείου Άνδρου σε θέματα προστασίας του θαλάσσιου περιβάλλοντος και αντιμετώπισης περιστατικών θαλάσσιας ρύπανσης, σας γνωρίζουμε ότι την 28-09-2021 και περί ώρα 11:00 στην παραλία Μπατσίου Άνδρου θα πραγματοποιηθεί υπό τον συντονισμό του Λιμεναρχείου Άνδρου σε συνεργασία με τον Δήμο Άνδρου, την μη Κερδοσκοπική Εταιρεία “Ερευνητικό Κέντρο Άνδρου” και τα εγχειρήματα Andros Routes και Καθαρή Πράσινη Άνδρος και το Δημοτικό Σχολείο Μπατσίου Άνδρου, παράκτιος καθαρισμός.

Επισημαίνεται ότι η ανωτέρω δράση έχει συμπεριληφθεί στην παγκόσμια εκστρατεία εθελοντικού καθαρισμού ακτών του Οργανισμού «Ocean Conservancy» που συντονίζει στη Χώρα μας, η Ελληνική Ένωση Προστασία Θαλάσσιου Περιβάλλοντος (HELMEPA), και έχει αναρτηθεί και στην επίσημη ιστοσελίδα της, καλώντας όλους τους πολίτες που επιθυμούν να συμμετέχουν, και προβάλλοντας το νησί της Άνδρου ως σημείο ενεργούς εθελοντικής δράσης για καθαρές ακτές και θάλασσες.

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By Katerina
2021News stories
September 27, 2021

What is it like to be a volunteer in Andros?

What is it like to be a volunteer in Andros? Kevin, who came from the United States to volunteer on Andros Routes and Clean Green Andros projects, shares the experience of his first days as a volunteer!
 
“After eleven days on Andros now volunteering with Andros Routes and Clean Green Andros, I have to say that I am having a wonderful time! I have already taken part in numerous tasks that both organizations engage in such as cleaning vegetation on trails, improving the footpaths, maintaining way markers, painting sign posts, and building new gates with Andros Routes and doing beach clean-ups, nurdle hunts, cleaning garbage along footpaths, tracking and recording recycling points and bulk waste around the island, and touring the main recycling centers with Clean Green Andros. I really love the variety of work I get to do! I have also met and worked with so many great and interesting people from local Andrians, Andrians who have returned to the island after living elsewhere in Greece, and foreigners who have made Andros home for decades. And they all make delicious food to share with me! In addition to the wonderful people I get to work with, I have met many people from the island who already know me from social media posts, so it is like I am a little celebrity here. Some kind soul even offered to sponsor a rental car for me so that I can more easily get to work and explore the island.
Through my work with Andros Routes and Clean Green Andros and even the movie Little England that I watched in the open-air cinema in Chora I have learned a lot about the history of the island and how these teams are working to preserve that history and beauty of Andros. My visits to the main waste collection site in Gavrio as well as my tour of the recycling center in Kypri taught me about the hard work that many people on the island are doing not only to keep Andros clean and beautiful but for the greater environment as well which is really inspiring. One of my tasks with Clean Green Andros has been to record any bulk waste I find, and I have been really impressed to find that many of the items I have recorded and taken pictures of are often gone by the next time I pass by within just a few days!
While the work is certainly enjoyable, it is definitely tiring and often times very tedious, specifically when painting the sign posts. However, it is equally rewarding when meeting hikers enjoying the freshly maintained trails or seeing locals separating their recycling into the various bins rather than throwing it in the garbage or worse on the ground. It is even more rewarding for me personally as I often use the trails maintained by Andros Routes in my free time as I run to train for my upcoming ultramarathon. It feels wonderful to give back and help to maintain something that I also enjoy so much. Recently, while I was running back towards my room in Batsi, a puppy began to follow me for nearly 5km and I was already planning how I would have to introduce him to my dog at home! Fortunately, he couldn’t keep up and eventually turned around and I saw him back in his village of Katakilos the next day. This friendly little guy made up for the more mean and aggressive dog that wouldn’t let me pass by him on a trail earlier on that day.
 
Kevin is a volunteer in the frame of Cyclades Green Volunteers program led by Cyclades Preservation Fund and supported by British Embassy Athens.
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By Katerina
2021News stories
September 1, 2021

Menites Association lead the way and set a great example of how an event can become clean and green!

At this year’s festival of the Virgin Mary of Koumoulou, which took place on Sunday, August 22, the Menites Association led the way by using re-usable crockery and cutlery instead of disposable items. They set a great example of how an event like this can take place, for a cleaner greener Andros.  

The Association served 150 portions of food on reusable crockery and cutlery. This crockery and cutlery came from their own supply, and supplemented by the dishes of the Clean Green Andros project. These items were used for the two multi-day Andros on Foot Festivals of 2018 and 2019, and most recently by the Andros Experience 2021 event.

The decision by the Menites Association not to use any disposable plastic was crucial to avoid the large volume of waste usually produced at such events, with a negative impact on the local environment and a burden on our waste management. According to the President of the Association, Mrs Despina Hatzoglou, every year, after the festival, plastic and garbage is collected from the surrounding areas and from the village terraces, after it has been scattered by the winds. Due to this initiative, very little waste was created this year.

Thanks to the reusable utensils,  at least 150  sets of plastic plates,  plastic forks and disposable glasses did not end up in the trash.  They also recycled their beverage containers and composted all their food scraps. So the only waste that eventually ended up in the garbage were the napkins!

We are delighted that we contributed, and we hope that other groups and associations will follow the example of the Menites Association! If you would like to know more about this service, please contact us.

Sincere thanks and congratulations to the Menites Association. 

Read More
By Katerina
2021News stories
June 28, 2021

Recycle clothes and shoes

New bins for recycling clothes and shoes in Andros! Don’t throw your old clothes and shoes away – someone needs them!

The Municipality of Andros Cleaning and Recycling Service, in collaboration with Freedom Hellas Karachalios Ioannis, has installed new five purple recycling bins specially for recycling of clothes and shoes.
Suitable clothes and shoes are donated to people in need – otherwise they are recycled into cleaning cloths and towels.

The new purple bins are located at the following spots:

  –   Chora: Two bins on the beach of Nimborio next to the Recycling Hut
  –   Gavrio: Next to Peristerionas in the port
  –   Batsi: At the back of the port
  –   Korthi: Next to the Cooperative at the entrance to Korthi Bay.

Find out in the map where the purple recycling bins for clothes and shoes are.

You can drop off any clean clothes and paired shoes (for men, women or children in these new bins. Please do not put dirty or wet clothes, material/cloth or unpaired shoes into these bins.
In return, the company will provide food and cleaning items to vulnerable social groups on the island through the Charitable Association of Apikia.

Let’s all support this new program to recycle clothes and shoes. We can help reduce the overall amount of waste on Andros, and also help support those in need.

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By Admin
2021News stories
June 16, 2021

Andros Experience

Clean Green Andros supports Andros Experience 2021! An event with less waste!

The Andros Experience 2021 Sports Event took place between June 11th and 13th on Andros, and the team behind Clean Green Andros was there!
On Friday, June 11, the project also participated in a Cyclades Preservation Fund (CPF) meeting arranged to inform people about the importance of protecting the Posidonia (the seagrass beds of the Cycladic seas). Also participating were the Mayor of Andros, representatives of Andros Port, local authorities and scientists from ELKETHE. At the meeting, we learned about the vital Posidonia, which, just like the Amazon of the Mediterranean, produces oxygen and protects the coasts from erosion. We also learnt that the Posidonia is threatened by trawling and mooring.
At the Andros Experience event on Saturday, June 12, in Gavrio, 200 portions of food were cooked and served to the athletes, volunteers, and participants. Andros Routes (sister project to Clean Green Andros) provided the reusable crockery, previously used at the two Andros on Foot Festivals.
Attending the event from Clean, Green Andros were Ulli Stahlmann and Katerina Pantazi and Annie Mitropoulou from CPF.
They promoted the initiative for a cleaner, greener Andros, leading the effort to reduce waste, use the correct bins for garbage, separate recyclables, and start composting. They also washed many dishes!
Thanks to the reusable crockery, the initiative prevented over 200 plastic plates from ending up in the trash. Finally, three recycling bags and one compost bag were collected. What was not recycled or composted – just a garbage bag! The efforts were worthwhile.

Warm thanks to Andros Experience 2021, the Municipality of Andros and the Cyclades Preservation Fund for their cooperation, the KTEL of Andros for transporting forgotten cutlery, the taxi driver George Mandarakas for transporting the banners, Dimitris Petsas for supplying the recycling bins, the restaurant Karavostasi that allowed us to use its kitchen for dishwashing, and SEDA for the transport of reusable crockery back to the store.
Stay tuned for the next actions.

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By Admin
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