Tilos, one of the most remote islands in Greece, lying northeast of Rhodes, covers around sixty square kilometres and is home to fewer than eight hundred people. It has become the first in the world to do away with landfills in the Aegean Sea, achieving a recycling rate of over ninety per cent, generating its own energy and embracing the circular economy with enthusiasm. This article explains how the island made it happen.

What will I read in this article?

• How Tilos became a model of energy self-sufficiency.
• The Just Go Zero project and the drastic reduction in waste.
• Circular centres that transform waste into new resources

It all started in 2017, when the island’s authorities decided to commit fully to sustainability. A wind turbine and enough solar panels were installed to supply the entire population. Their efforts were recognised with the EU RESponsible Island Prize, a European Commission initiative.

At the time, Tilos met its energy needs via an underwater cable connected to the island of Kos. Today, it runs on a hybrid system funded by the EU through the Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, and now exports electricity to both Kos and Nisyros. Surplus power is stored in high-capacity, long-life sodium batteries, which keep the grid stable both on bright, sunny days (most of the year) and on days when strong winds force the turbine to shut down.

The Tilosians, as the islanders are known, use a “waste team” to separate what they throw away: a blue cloth bag for everything that can be recycled (glass, clothing, plastics, small furniture, electronic devices, and so on), plus two biodegradable bags – one for organic matter and one for miscellaneous waste such as personal hygiene products and toilet paper. Before the project started, the average amount of rubbish produced per person was 770 kilos a year. Today it is just 440.

Every day, a fleet of electric vehicles collects waste from local businesses, while household rubbish is picked up four times a week. All of it is taken to the Circular Innovation Centre, where it is sorted manually and, with the help of advanced technology, transformed into energy and compost for use by farmers and for export.

Meanwhile, the Creative Recycling Centre takes in items and products that can be given a second life or a new purpose – whether as works of art, furniture made from recycled materials or clothing crafted from plastics and other reclaimed fabrics.

An app allows every Tilosian to check their recycling levels in real time, while also keeping them informed about job opportunities in renewable energy, ecotourism and sustainable farming. On top of that, the island’s vehicle fleet is gradually phasing out diesel in favour of electric and hybrid vehicles.

The Tilos experience proves that the energy transition and the circular economy are not just lofty ideals, but real possibilities. Choosing renewables not only cuts waste and emissions, it also bolsters the energy independence of isolated communities and opens the door to new economic and social opportunities. The future depends on multiplying initiatives like this one, born on a small Greek island that now inspires the world with a clear message: sustainability is the surest path to a freer, fairer and more resilient tomorrow.