Recycling Industry Discussion at Kavala Expo
On 30 September 2023, the Kavala Expo hosted a Waste Management Sector Business Council meeting on the challenges and opportunities in the recycling industry. The event brought together 8 onsite and 2 online participants to discuss issues arising from legal frameworks, operational difficulties and high costs in the sector, and find collaborative solutions to overcome them.
The main focus of the discussions was recycling laws. Participants highlighted the complexity and implications of current regulations, identifying challenges such as compliance requirements, frequent regulatory changes and administrative burden. These factors contribute significantly to operational difficulties and increase costs for recycling businesses.
The workshop also addressed operational difficulties and high costs. Challenges related to logistics, infrastructure constraints and technological opportunities were discussed. Participants highlighted the significant costs associated with equipment maintenance, labour and waste disposal fees that put pressure on the profitability of recyclers.
In the search for collaborative solutions, discussions focused on the possibility of building collaborative strategies. Ideas were exchanged for creating alliances, consortia or industry associations to work together to advocate for policy reforms, share best practices and pool resources to overcome operational and financial barriers to the recycling industry.
Organised by the association "Development of culture tourism environment" - DE. CU.T.E. within the project "Business Council - BC 6275", funded under the INTERREG V/A GREECE-BULGARIA 2014-2020 programme (grant agreement No. B6.3a.18/13.04.2021), the Kavala Expo meeting provided a valuable platform for exchanging views and identifying key challenges for the recycling sector. The topics discussed and collaborative approaches proposed can serve as a basis for future initiatives aimed at the sustainable development of the industry.
