No, that’s not a typo — we’re not talking about Tinos, the popular Cycladic island known for its Virgin Mary Church, impressive pigeon houses, and picturesque landscape. Tilos island is not usually found on your Instagram, but some say it is just as beautiful as the most famous Greek islands. Tilos is in the Dodecanese group and is part of an ecological park and nature reserve. The island is known for its 400 species of flora and fauna, and 150 species of birds.
To compare the human population with this number, there are only 500 residents. Tilos island is only 63 square kilometers in size, and most visitors travel here through Rhodes. It is an ideal location for beach days, hiking, or village hopping in Megalo Chorio and Livadia.
Tilos, The “Green Island of Greece”
Some call the location the “Green Island of Greece” because it was part of the Horizon 2020 program, an 80 billion-euro funding program for research and innovation that fights climate change and helps to meet the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. For this reason, Tilos creates all of its own energy from renewable sources. Greece’s first hybrid power station was built on Tilos. You can read more about renewable energy in Tilos on the Tilos Project website.
Besides its renewable energy projects, including wind and solar energy, Tilos is also the first island in the world to officially not use landfills. Instead, Tilos has a waste management program called “Just Go Zero Tilos.”
Just Go Zero Tilos
Just Go Zero Tilos is the waste management program on Tilos, established in partnership with Polygreen, an environmental management company based in Piraeus, Greece. Tilos creates an example we should all try to follow. Tilos is the first island in the world to achieve zero waste to landfill, accredited the Zero Waste City Certification.
The Mayor of Tilos Island, Mrs. Maria Kamma Aliferi was quoted in 2022 saying: “Thanks to the Just Go Zero Tilos project, which follows the European project for Tilos’ energy autonomy, Tilos is to become an example of applied green innovation and reap multiple benefits, such as: A cleaner environment that improves the daily life of both residents and businesses and a reputation as a sustainable destination attracting more environmentally conscious visitors and international tourists.”
Door to Door Waste Collection
In fact, there are no public dustbins on the island of Tilos. Rather, the public services collect waste door to door with the goal of composting, recycling and reusing. The old landfill has been closed and restored, and is now called the “Center for Circular Innovation.”
Upcycling
Just Go Zero Tilos also creates special process for household appliances and small furniture. They are taken to a Center for Creative Upcycling to be repaired or used in artistic creations. Tilos hopes to host artists in the future, who create art installations with these pieces of “trash” that otherwise would be in the landfill.
Zero Point
A permanent information point on Tilos called “Point Zero” offers residents and visitors information about how to use the Just Go Zero system. The “Point Zero” is an exhibition space for the artwork made from the Centre for Creative Upcycling.
Just Go Zero App
Through the Just Go Zero app, every house in Tilos can track the waste it produces and how much of it is recyclabes, organic, or non-recyclables. So, each household and business can track its performance and set targets for zero-waste.
The Blue Bag
Every household on Tilos has a special blue bag where you put recyclable materials. The bags have a unique QR code so that the materials inside can be recorded when collected. So, every house can measure its recycling rate.
Directions for Visitors to Tilos
When you arrive, you will find information from your hotel or lodging about how to separate materials correctly. If you come with a sailboat or speedboat, you can find out more information from signs posted at the Tilos port and follow the instructions for how to dispose of waste while in Tilos. You are encouraged to carry a multi-use bag when shopping, and you can also find out more at the Zero Point Information Center in Livadia.
About Tilos
In the streets of Tilos, you will find walls painted in the typical Cycladic white and blue doors that are surrounded by bougainvillea flowers. Some parts of the ancient wall from the 4th century BC are still visible in town. The capital of Tilos is called Megalo Horio, and there are two other main settlements: Eristos and Agios Antonios.
Eating in Tilos
One of our favorite surprises on the island is a fully-functioning dairy that is in a shipping container. The shop inside is called “Irinna dairy” and they produce a delicious cheese called “thalassotyri” which is brined in saltwater for 24 hours for a wonderful salty flavor. For sweets, the best spot on the island is “O Gialos”, which is known for its great Greek coffee and homemade galaktoboureko.
Hiking in Tilos
For nature lovers, the wild flora and fauna of Tilos are not just for looking – you can experience lovely walks through the footpaths that go around the entire island. Tilos has 12 hills that are filled with endangered species and local herbs. Hunting has been banned on Tilos since 1993. You can find a map of all the trails at the village square in Livadia.
Bathing with Peacocks
Of the nature experiences to enjoy on the island of Tilos, you can go beyond the Chapel of Kamariani to the beach of Plaka, which is lined with tall tamarisk trees. Turkey is so close that you can see it across the water, and the land is dense with cedar and pine trees. Wild peacocks roam here and it’s a great place for a summer picnic and reading in the shade.
