Production of municipal solid waste and sewage in European refugees’ camps: The case of Lesvos, Greece

Abstract Since 2015, Lesvos Island (Greece) is a key entry location for people seeking asylum in the EU. This article presents information for the production of municipal solid waste and sewage in the asylum seekers reception sites of Moria and Kara Tepe for the period between May 2016 and April 2017. According to the results, the annual produced municipal solid waste and sewage in the refugees’ camps were 1464 tons and 95,550 m 3 , respectively. Taking into account the population served, the average daily per capita generation of municipal solid waste was 0.88 kg per asylum seeker and day, significantly lower than that calculated for the permanent population the same period (1.39 kg per inhabitant and day). The daily production of sewage was 54 L per asylum seeker and day, while the corresponding value for the permanent population was 211 L per inhabitant and day. The total methane emissions from solid waste and sewage production in studied refugees’ camps were estimated to 178.6 tons per year or 35.5 kg CH 4 per asylum seeker and year. Further investigation is needed for the characterization of the produced solid waste and sewage in order to assure the sustainable design and operation of these sites.