
Rethymno Students Take Action for the Planet
Rethymno Schools Lead by Example in Recycling and Environmental Education
During the 2024–2025 school year, ten primary schools in the Municipality of Rethymno joined a special environmental education program. The goal was to help students adopt eco-friendly habits and learn how they can protect the Earth in everyday life.
The program was supported by the Municipality of Rethymno, the European Interreg Euro-MED eWAsTER project, and sponsors including ESDAK (Crete’s waste management organization), KTEL Chania-Rethymno buses, ENSER A.E., GEFSINOUS, RECYCOM, the Klapsinakis bookstore, and the Cultural Association of Gerani.


What Students Learned
The program focused on helping children:
- Understand how recycling helps the planet
- Build good habits for protecting the environment
- Appreciate volunteering and community involvement
- Practice teamwork, communication, and cooperation
A Program Built on Four Main Parts
The project had four main sections, each with its own purpose:
- Classroom Visits – Program educators visited each school and led fun, interactive lessons.
- Creative and Recycling Contests – Students participated in hands-on competitions to learn through experience.
- Field Trips – Schools visited local recycling and waste facilities to see how waste is managed in real life.
- Community Outreach – Activities reached beyond the classroom to spread awareness throughout the community.
Each school received four recycling bins in different colors for paper, plastic, aluminum, and organic waste. The city collected and weighed the recyclables weekly. Points were awarded based on how much each school recycled.


Students Impressed with Creativity and Action
The students’ participation exceeded expectations. All ten schools took part in the recycling competition, collecting many tons of recyclable materials. The top-performing school alone gathered nearly 10 tons!
The top three schools in total recycling were:
- 7th Primary School – 9,950 kg and excellent waste management practices
- 10th Primary School – 9,910 kg
- 3rd Primary School – 7,930 kg
These schools received video projectors, donated by ESDAC, as prizes.
Art Contest Winners Shine
In addition to recycling, students also expressed their creativity in an art competition, held with the support of the Museum of Contemporary Art and guided by artist Mr. Christidis. The winners were:
- 16th Primary School of Rethymno
- 1st Experimental Primary School of Rethymno
- 2nd Primary School of Rethymno
Each winning school received a laptop, also donated by ESDAC.
Special Recognition Awards
Several schools received special prizes:
- Gerani Primary School was honored for using a mechanical composting machine for organic waste. Their prize included a keyboard, wireless mouse, and two speakers, sponsored by RECYCOM.
- 13th, 15th, and 8th Primary Schools received books as participation gifts, sponsored by Klapsinakis Bookstore, to recognize their enthusiasm and interest throughout the program.
A Community Effort for a Better Future
As one city representative noted, it’s inspiring to see children leading the way in protecting the environment. While past generations did not always value nature and its resources, today’s students are becoming aware of how important it is to care for the planet.
This program not only educated students but also brought schools, teachers, families, and the wider community together. It showed that when we work as a team, we can make a real difference.
The Municipality of Rethymno plans to continue these kinds of programs. After all, the future belongs to today’s children—and helping them grow into responsible citizens is the best investment we can make.
