On the occasion of the International Plastic Bag Free Day, Syntagma Square was filled with color, energy, and optimism!!
Many citizens of all ages responded to the call by TEXAN and NextStep Media, in collaboration with the Municipality of Athens, actively participating in an event that seamlessly combined awareness-raising with ecological action.
The central message of the day—the urgent need to reduce plastic bag usage and to promote recycling—was broadcast live by PARAPOLITIKA 90.1 FM through the show “Bras de fer”, with Dimitris Takis and Christina Korai as hosts.
The speech was given to both people on the political scene and environmental experts, underlining that waste management and public awareness are a national priority.
Among the speakers was the Mayor of Athens, Mr. Haris Doukas, who stressed the need to strengthen the public space with sustainable development actions.
The Deputy Minister of Health Mr. Dimitris Vartzopoulos, the General Secretary for Waste Management Coordination of the Ministry of Environment, Mr. Manolis Grafakos, the press spokesman of the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Omiros Tsapalos, the press spokeswoman of New Democracy, Mrs. Alexandra Sdoukou, the MPs Dimitris Markopoulos, Spyros Bibilas and Petros Pappas, as well as the member of the Political Secretariat of SYRIZA Dionysis Temponeras.
All, with different approaches, agreed on the importance of recycling and the phasing out of plastic bags.
The Professor of the NTUA, Mr. Giorgos Giannis, the Deputy Mayor for Cleaning of Athens Municipality, Mrs. Roxani Bey, and the Vice President of the Greek National Tourism Organization, Mr. Konstantinos Zikos, stressed, through their statements, the importance of infrastructure, education and tourism policy that respects the environment.
The event also featured modern recycling machines, allowing attendees to symbolically recycle plastic, glass, and aluminum.
Particularly noteworthy was the active participation of citizens, who, beyond being informed, engaged directly in the initiative and entered a draw for technology-related prizes.
The event had a strong family-oriented character, with actions specially designed for children.
Through interactive games and creative workshops, young children were educated on the environmental harm caused by plastic bags and the importance of reuse.
Their favorite spot was the photo booth, where they were transformed into “Heroes of Recycling” – an experience that combined joy with environmental education.
The great participation confirms that citizens embrace environmental actions and show in practice that change starts from everyday life: from choosing a reusable fabric bag over a plastic one and separating waste properly, to supporting organizations that promote sustainability.
TEXAN, with its constant presence in information and awareness actions, demonstrates that recycling is not just an obligation – it is a life-long attitude. Today’s event in the heart of Athens marked a meaningful step toward a more sustainable future.
