Greece advances waste management with 28 new processing units

During the Olympia Forum VII, Manolis Grafakos, the General Secretary for Waste Management Coordination, announced that Greece is transitioning from waste management planning to active implementation. The strategy focuses on separate waste collection, recycling, the development of processing infrastructure, and energy recovery.

Currently, 14 waste processing units are operational, with 28 additional units under construction and 10 more in the tendering process. To address gaps in infrastructure, the Greek Cabinet has decided to expropriate land for new processing facilities on Santorini and Ikaria, which were noted as the last areas in the country lacking legal installations.

Furthermore, 13 comprehensive plans for separate waste collection have been developed, and funding calls have been issued. The government is also working on a strategic environmental impact study to facilitate the energy recovery of waste, a process that will involve notifying the European Commission and establishing a new legislative framework.