Volume 3, Issue 7, July 2009 Journalism as never before  

Contents

Front PageAround TownThis MonthRenaissance FestivalSpotlightLifestyleLifestyle TooWeird WildlifeFun & GamesCommunityEnterprising LocalsClassifiedClassified TooThe Back Page

Current Issue

Contact UsArchive

The Bugle only
 

Lifestyle Too

Blue Flag Beaches

Rethymnon Coffee Morning Bugle - Blue Flag BeachesThis year 16 beaches in the Rethymnon Nomos have been awarded Blue Flag status, 12 on the North Coast, 4 on the South Coast. The overall total for the region is the same as in 2008, but there is now one fewer Blue Flag beach on the North Coast, and an additional one on the South Coast. To be awarded Blue Flags, beaches have to fulfil several criteria. The main criteria for these awards include provisions of environmental information and education, complying with water quality specifications, good environmental management, conforming to safety standards and provision of first aid services. To find out more about the Blue Flag scheme, and list of criteria see the www.blueflag.org website. Given the list of criteria, and the fact that many of the beaches on the South Coast are ‘wild’, it is hardly surprising that fewer of these will qualify for an award than those on the North Coast. Here is the list of beaches that qualify for the award this year:

North Coast Beaches
Municipality of Rethymnon: Minos Mare Hotel, Platanias; Hotel Porto Rethymno, Rethymnon; Pearl Beach Hotel, Rethymnon; Hotel Steris, Rethymnon; Hotel Creta Palace, Misiria.
Municipality of Arkadi: Rethymno Beach Hotel, Adelianos Kampos; Hotel El Greco, Pigianos Kampos; Hotel Creta Star, Skaleta.
Municipality of Geropotamos: Livadi Beach, Bali; Varkotopos Beach, Bali; Lianos Kavos; Hotel Creta Panorama; Panormo Lake Beach.

South Coast Beaches
Municipality of Lampis: Ystero Varkotopi Beach, Agia Galini.
Municipality of Finikas: Damnoni Beach, Plakias; Alianthos Hotel, Plakias; Souda Beach, Plakias.

Eco Corner

Rethymnon Coffee Morning Bugle - Eco CornerOnce again, this month’s Green News for the Rethymnon region is a bit of a mixed bag. As we reported last month, June 5th was World Environment Day. Local (private) initiatives to mark the event - mainly sponsored by hotels - included cleaning up local beaches (the emphasis being on those beaches which were ‘Blue Flag’ contenders!) and tree planting, However, as far as the Bugle is aware, none of the local authorities in the region were involved in sponsoring events or promotional activities, which is a shame - particularly when one considers that Rethymnon Municipality supposedly places environmental issues near the top of the list on its policy agenda. Actions speak louder than words…. Next year, perhaps?

Rethymnon Coffee Morning Bugle - RecyclingOn the plus side, the scheme to enable residents to recycle used cooking oil that we also reported on last month has now been implemented. So far, four containers have been placed in Rethymnon (see photo to the right for an example). The locations are as follows: the entrance to the industrial port (near old harbour); the South entrance to the municipal park; Agios Giorgos Church (Kallithea) and Kapodistriou street (also in Kallithea). Just open the lid on the top and pour your used oil into the container. Once the container is full, one of the companies participating in the scheme will come and empty it (fingers crossed!). The recycled cooking oil will go towards producing bio-fuel and soap.

Additional recycling facilities in the Rethymnon region that we are aware of are listed in the section below. If you know of any that we haven’t mentioned, please get in touch!

Where Can I Recycle Waste Items?

Rethymnon Coffee Morning Bugle - RecyclingApart from using the blue and yellow recycling bins for household waste other items can be recycled as follows:
Disposal of broken electrical goods. There is a depot just outside town which will take anything ‘that had a plug on it’ (including washing machines and fridges). Drivers, take the National Road towards Heraklion in Misiria. Turn off the highway after about 100—150 metres, hang a right and you should soon see recycling bins etc. The depot is open from 6am to 3pm on weekdays, and from 6am to 12 noon at weekends. For further information call 28310 57940. For large objects that need collection call 195 from any phone.
Old telephones and small telecoms items. There is a green bin in the entrance of the main OTE office..
Batteries. various places in town including OTE, DEI, Germanos, Marinopoulos and Champion.
Old cars. DRAKOS on the left hand side of the National Road a short way out of Rethymnon (going towards Hania). They even pay you as they recycle the spares and give you a paper for tax purposes!