PRIORITY 1 - Transition to a low carbon economy
The RU READY – Reduce, reUse, and RecyclE Actions for cross borDer interplay project is a 24-month cross-border initiative which aims to accelerate the transition toward a circular economy in the border regions of Western Macedonia (Greece) and Pelagonia (North Macedonia), where recycling and reuse rates remain far below EU targets. By introducing the 3Rs principles—Reduce, Reuse, Recycle—the project tackles a pressing environmental challenge while also generating new social and economic opportunities.
Activities will take place in the Municipality of Velvendos (Kozani, Greece) and the Municipality of Bitola (North Macedonia). In Greece, RU READY will introduce a smart “Earn As You Throw” (EAYT) system that uses innovative smart bins to encourage households to recycle more by linking their disposal behaviour to digital rewards. In North Macedonia, the project will establish the first national-level Reuse Center in Bitola, adapting an existing municipal building into a facility where citizens can donate, repair and repurpose materials and products instead of discarding them. Together, these investments represent a model for waste reduction, resource efficiency and behavioural change in both rural and urban contexts.
DIADYMA SA (Greece), the Lead Beneficiary and the region’s official waste management company, will coordinate the project, oversee the installation and operation of the smart bins in Velvendos, and ensure long-term integration of the system. CERTH – Centre for Research and Technology Hellas brings its technical expertise to design and develop the EAYT system, smart applications and monitoring tools, while also supporting testing, evaluation and exploitation planning. In North Macedonia, the Public Enterprise Komunalec Bitola will adapt and operate the Reuse Center, manage citizen training and consultations and ensure its continuity beyond the project’s end. Finally, the Civil Society Organization for Development of Alternative Tourism (Ljubojno, Resen) will lead communication, awareness campaigns, stakeholder consultations and New European Bauhaus activities that link circular economy with community innovation.
Key deliverables include the full deployment of the smart EAYT system in Velvendos, the establishment and operation of the Reuse Center in Bitola, two dedicated mobile applications to guide and reward citizen behaviour and a rich set of knowledge-exchange events, workshops and public campaigns. Eleven public events will be jointly organised across the two countries, while project videos, podcasts and interactive outreach will spread awareness of the benefits of circular practices.
The project directly targets households and citizens—about 2,500 in Velvendos and 69,000 in Bitola—who will adopt new recycling and reuse habits in their daily lives. It also involves six organisations (the four partners plus the municipalities where the systems are installed), local businesses and public authorities. By the end of the project, RU READY will have trained at least 30 participants in modern waste management practices, created at least four new jobs and mobilised thousands of citizens through its reward system and reuse activities.
Expected results are both environmental and social. The project will reduce the volume of waste sent to disposal, increase the share of materials recycled or reused and lower waste management costs for municipalities and citizens. It will strengthen environmental awareness, support vulnerable groups through affordable reuse options and demonstrate that coordinated cross-border action can drive tangible improvements in sustainability and quality of life.
Lead Beneficiary
Project Beneficiaries
