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Greece
- General facts
- National legislative framework
- National policies on waste
- Instruments
- Data on waste management
- National legislation on waste (selected)
- Competent Authorities
- Bibliography
1. General facts
| Surface area | 131626 Km² |
|---|---|
| Population (tousand inhabitans) | 11006 |
| Population density | 84 inhabitants/Km² |
| Average number of persons per private household* |
2.6 |
| Passenger cars per 1000 inhabitants** | 331 |
| GDP per capita in Purchasing Power Standards(PPS) EU25=100 |
82 |
| GDP per capita (Constant prices) | EUR 11473 (at 1995 and exchange rates) |
| Land use*** | - |
| Household characteristics by urbanisation degree, distribution of households % **** |
100 % Unknown |
| Gross value added (GVA) - At current basic prices and current exchange rates (% of all branches). |
13% Industry, including energy
8% Construction 31% Trade, transport and communication services 20% Buisness activities and financial services 22% Other services 6% Agriculture, hunting and fishing |
Source: Eurostat, 2004 except from *2003; **EUROSTAT/DGTREN, 2002; ***2000; ****1999
2. National legislative framework
| Reference | Main features |
|---|---|
| Joint Ministerial Decision 114218/1997 of 17 November 1997 | Concerning the establishment of a general framework & waste management programs;
Sets the framework of technical specifications and general programmes for the management of solid waste. |
| Joint Ministerial Decision 50910/2727/2003
(OJG 1909/2003) |
Provides measures and terms for solid waste management - national and regional planning management, in complete compliance with the European Waste Framework Directive 91/156/EEC. |
| Joint Ministerial Decision 13588/725/2006 (OJG 383 B/2006) | Provides measures and terms for hazardous waste management. |
| Joint Ministerial Decision 24944/1159/2006 (OJG 791 B/2006) | Concerning the establishment of general technical specifications of hazardous waste management. |
2.1 Summary of the legislation relevant to waste management
In 1986, Law 1650 for the Environment established a framework of sanctions and liabilities for the protection of the
environment. This Law set the waste management issue under the jurisdiction of Local Authorities. In 1990, two Joint
Ministerial Decisions (JMD 69269/5387/90 (Official Journal of the Government - OJG 678B/1990) and JMD 73508/5512/90 (OJG 691B/1990)) introduced environmental impact assessments for certain projects and activities. Recently, the
environmental impact assessment framework in Greece(set by Law 1650/1986) has been amended (by Law 3010/2002) in order to fully harmonize national
legislation with EU Directives 96/61/EC and 97/11/EC. In accordance with this Law, three new Joint Ministerial
Decisions (JMDs 15393/2332/2002, 11014/703/104 and 37111/2021/2003) introduce new provisions for categorization of projects, environmental permitting and public
participation.
The EU Waste framework Directive was transposed into domestic law in 1986, through the Joint Ministerial
Decision 49541/1424/86 (“solid waste in conformity with Directive 75/442/EEC…”). Directive 91/156/EEC, which amended
the Waste Framework Directive, was transposed into domestic law in 1996(through the Joint Ministerial Decision 69728/824/1996), through the Joint Ministerial Decision on
“the general measures and conditions for solid waste management”. Generally speaking, the Joint Ministerial Decision
attempted to integrate and rationalise earlier legislation in the field of waste management.
- More precisely (some of the following had been formerly included in JMD 49541/1424/86) :
- It defined certain key concepts (such as “solid waste”, solid waste management”, “solid waste disposal”, “transport” etc.);
- It stipulated that management measures should not put in danger the quality of the water, the air, the soil and the flora and fauna, should not cause any nuisance related to noise or smell and should not upset the aesthetic balance of the landscape;
- It provided for the establishment of a national waste policy framework through the adoption of long-term goals, the introduction of comparative criteria regarding the evaluation and the selection of the disposal and management sites and the institution of common terms and procedures pertaining to the elaboration and the implementation of solid waste management;
- It placed the overall responsibility for the formulation of general policy directions in the hands of YPEHODE (the Hellenic Ministry for the Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works). YPEHODE, however, should act “in cooperation with the other responsible Ministries, the Central Association of Municipalities and Communities (KEDKE) and the Association of the Local Authorities of Greek Prefectures (ENAE)”. The act established that these general policy directions would initially place emphasis on the reduction of the production and the harmfulness of solid waste, and, ultimately, would be concentrated a) in the exploitation of waste through recycling, re-use or recovery and b) in the utilisation of waste as an energy source;
- It stated that the competence for designing and implementing local management strategies would belong to the local councils or local associations for waste management, the prefecture councils and, in case of incapability, the region;
- It introduced a two-stage procedure for the adoption of local waste management plans. At the first stage, the management framework would be established by the Prefecture or their Region, their; at the second stage, the plan itself would be drafted by the local councils, their associations, their Prefecture or their Region, and would be successively approved by the Prefecture or the Region, the Environment Directorate of the Region and YPEHODE itself;
- It declared that, after the closure of each landfill, the responsible management body would assume the responsibility for its rehabilitation and after-care.
In 1996, Local Authorities started the elaboration of Prefectural solid waste management schemes, in accordance with the Joint Ministerial Decision(JMD 69728), which was accompanied by two other acts issued one year later:
- JMD 113944/1997 on “the general policy directions for solid waste management at national level” and
- JMD 114218/1997 on “the establishment of a framework of technical specifications and of general plans of solid waste management”.
The first act, JMD113944, rearticulated some of the definitions, objectives, procedures and specification lain
down by the Joint Ministerial Decision(JMD 69728); moreover, it set some additional quantitative objectives and defined the
minimum standards for the studies on the selection of disposal sites, also suggesting measures for raising public awareness
and ensuring social acceptance.
JMD 114218 determined the technical specifications regarding the appropriate systems, means and procedures for
each of the available waste treatment methods (like temporary storage, collection and disposal, collection at
source, recycling etc.) and it also specified the criteria for the selection of landfills, as well as for the
planning, design and function of “Sanitary Legal Waste Disposal Sites” (HYTA), mechanical sorting plants and
composting facilities.
YPEHODE has prepared the first National Solid Waste Management Plan, which was translated into law in 2000 by
JMD 14312/1302/2000 “filling in JMD 113944/1997”.
During 2001-2003, YPEHODE has focused on the transposition of the recent community legislation on the waste
management into the national system. Based on the recent institutional framework and the review process of the
first National Planning, YPEHODE proceeded to a thorough reform of the domestic management system, issuing in 2003
the JMD 50910/2727/2003 (OJG 1909/2003).
JMD 50910 established “the measures and terms for solid waste management” and provided the guidelines for the
national and regional management planning, repealing JMD 69728 of 1996 and JMD 113944 of 1997. This new act aims to
achieve “full conformity” with the Waste Framework Directive, placing particular emphasis on the establishment of
functional and effective planning and managing procedures. More precisely:
- A five-year national plan for the management of solid waste was introduced; hence, some essential requirements of EU waste legislation that were overlooked in the past - like the establishment of a national network for waste disposal and the creation of national statistics on waste- are finally included in the priorities of national planning.
- The national management plan is to be complemented by 13 five-year regional management plans (each of which is going to integrate and supplement the pre-existing local planning).
- JMD 50910 repeats the dual commitment of the Greek government to close down all illegal landfills by the end of 2008 and to reduce the biodegradable municipal waste to 65% by 2020. Intermediate targets are: 25% (2010) and 50% (2013). The targets will be achieved through the operation of recycling and composting facilities in almost all regions of the country as well as through the full operation of the separate collection systems for selected waste streams (see below: packaging waste and alternative management of selected waste streams).
Specific EU targets include the reduction of the quantity of wastes going to final disposal by 20% from 2000 to 2010, and by 50% by 2050, with special emphasis on cutting hazardous waste.
| Period of implementation | Main features |
|---|---|
| National Planning for the Integrated and Alternative Management of Solid Waste (elaborated between 1997-1999) | Based on the principles contained in JMD 113944/97:
|
| “updated national solid waste management plan” |
|
| Transposition | Act/Law/decree | Year of transposition | Text available (Y/N) |
Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landfill directive99/31 | JMD 29407/3508/2002 (OJG 1572B/2002) on measures and terms for sanitary disposal. | 2002 | Y | Greek |
| Landfill decision 2003/33 | - | - | - | |
| Incineration directive 76/00 | JMD 22912/1117/2005 (OJG 759B/2005) on measures and terms for the prevention and reduction of environmental pollution and the incineration of waste | 2005 | Y | Greek |
2.2 Landfill and Incineration Directives
According to YPEHODE figures, the number of uncontrolled dumps was statistically reduced from 6,500 in 1997 to 2182
in 2001 and 1458 in 2002.Up until the early 1990s, the use of uncontrolled dumps was the “traditional” method of
solid waste disposal. Since then, the overall situation has dramatically improved: There are 45 sanitary landfills
constructed in Greece (41 already operational) whereas 47 more sites are under construction including the expansion
of existing ones. Last data for the year 2003 reports that 1032 dumping sites, mainly small, were still operating
in various municipalities of the country. It is expected that by the end of 2008, uncontrolled waste dumping will
cease to exist.
On 16 December 2002 the Directive was transposed into Greek law through a Joint Ministerial Decision (JMD 29407/
3508 ) of the Ministries of Environment (YPEHODE), Economy, Home Affairs, Development and Health and Social Welfare.
The JMD includes Greece’s commitment to reduce the biodegradable municipal waste to 35% by 2020 and not by 2016,
because Greece takes advantage of the four-year extension (the “postponement clause”) allowed for those countries
landfilling more than 80% of their waste in the year 1996, and is formulating its strategy by placing targets for
the years 2010, 2013 and 2020.
Various regional waste management plans foresee the construction of MBT plants as the main tool to meet the
Landfill Directive targets. At present 3 such plants are in operation. Obviously, while the option to revise the
waste management plans to include other options such as thermal treatment or source separation is always open,
but conditions for either of these options do not seem to be mature yet. At the moment, there are no facilities
processing source separated organic waste, although it would be fairly easy to do so with at least the green waste,
as they are collected separately anyway and some municipalities have thought of doing so.
3. National policies on waste
Greek national strategy on sustainable development (NSSD):
The strategy been formulated in view of the preparations for the Johannesburg WSSD 2002 and it has been
approved by the Council of Ministers in Athens in June 2002. The strategy includes a chapter concerning the
“Reduction and rational management of solid waste”.The targets of the National Strategy for the management of solid
wastes, as presented in the National Plan of Integrated Management, aim at the safe disposal and maximisation of
recycling. In parallel, long-term actions are mainly promoted for the reduction of the total quantity of produced
solid wastes.
The basic sectors of action of the NSSD for Solid Wastes are:
- Safe disposal and recycling
- Exploitation of domestic wastes
- Management of industrial and hazardous solid wastes
- Reduction of the solid wastes quantity
- Institutional measures
The above directions will be accompanied by other actions, such as, training the staff of local authorities and
raising the awareness of the responsible for decision making and the citizens in general. Additionally, the
Operational Programme “Competitiveness” of the Hellenic Ministry of Development, incorporated in the 3rd Community
Support Framework, also provides for the creation of new and extension of existing units for recycling, the reuse
and dismantling of solid material and waste and the further promotion of environmental management schemes (e.g. EMAS).
Regarding composting, the current situation can be summed up as follows:
- no source separation schemes are in place for the organic fraction of MSW, therefore there are no composting facilities currently producing quality compost;
- three large MBT facilities are already in operation;
- to date standards on compost quality refer to mixed MSW compost.
An important area that characterizes the current situation is the secondary raw materials market. Currently, no market for compost or RDF exists. This is due to two main reasons:
- Greek legislation imposes compost specifications, in order to utilise it for agricultural use, while its application on fields is allowed for a limit of years in order to avoid bio - accumulation of heavy metals. Currently, farmers are still more used to the commercial products they apply for years.
- Strict specifications apply for RDF especially when it comes to its moisture. Besides, the use of RDF as an alternative fuel presupposes modifications and additional air pollution treatment units, for industries willing to use it as a fuel (i.e. cement factories). The related costs for these modifications are significant and it is doubtable that industry will afford it.
Additionally, existing markets for plastics and glass are not well developed, while markets for paper and metals
are mostly defined by private sector activities.
There are currently no plans to introduce some kind of landfill tax.
Tyres
In just over a decade (1987-1998) the quantity of used tyres has experienced a 70 % increase fuelled by the
corresponding increase in the numbers of vehicles into circulation (fig. 3.2.5a). The broader Athens district
contributes 55 % of the quantities of tyres withdrawn nowadays from the various types of vehicles (cars, trucks,
motorcycles).
On the basis of the existing legislative framework, all tyres producers, importers etc.. have established a
collective system called ECOELASTIKA, which is dealing with the separate collection and alternative management
(recycling) of used tyres.
The main objectives of the National Legislative Framework on tyres aims to:
- Promote the recovery of used tyres up to 65% of those collected (till 31.7.06). Within this time framework and target, the recycling percentage of used tyres should be at least 10%
- promote the alternative use of tyres (for instance in various constructions)
- minimize the quantities that are disposed of
Packaging waste and alternative management of selected waste streams:
Law 2939/2001 (OJG 179A/2001) for “Packaging and the Alternative Management of Packaging and other Materials -
Establishment of the National Organization for Alternative Management of Packaging and other Materials (NOAMPOM)”
constitutes the general legal framework for the alternative management of packaging and other waste streams
(i.e. tyres, ELVs, batteries, used oils, construction/demolition wastes, with priorities on the prevention, reuse,
recycling and energy recovery without polluting. The whole operational framework for all these waste streams is at
its beginning phase (Start of operation: 2nd half of 2004 except for packaging waste), therefore most quantitative
information will be available after 2005
The implementation started with the formulation of a private – public partnership, the Packaging Waste
Management Company (PWMC), in 2003. This company has undertaken the task to organize packaging waste management
activities all over the country and to assure increase in recycling rates for all recyclable materials, by
enhancing citizens’ participation and constructing new Material Recovery Facilities.
4. Instruments
(None Identified)
5. Data on waste management
| 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total waste generation | - | 33130 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Municipal waste generated | 3200 | 3600 | 3900 | 4082 | 4264 | 4447 | 4559 | 4640 | 4710 |
| Municipal waste landfilled | 3295 | 3437 | 3540 | 3719 | 3886 | 4056 | 4157 | 4233 | 4328 |
| Biodegradable municipal waste generated | *2100 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Biodegradable waste landfilled | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2827 | 2877 | 2926 |
| Used tyres generated | - | - | - | - | - | - | 248 | 250 | 252 |
Source: Eurostat structural Indicators, * Eurostat, data reported by member states to the European Commission (late 2005)
| 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total waste generation | - | 33130 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Municipal waste generated | 302 | 337 | 363 | 378 | 393 | 408 | 417 | 423 | 428 |
| Municipal waste landfilled | 311 | 322 | 329 | 344 | 358 | 372 | 380 | 386 | 393 |
| Biodegradable municipal waste generated | *199 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Biodegradable waste landfilled | - | - | - | - | - | - | 259 | 262 | 266 |
| Used tyres generated | - | - | - | - | - | - | 23 | 23 | 23 |
Source: Eurostat structural Indicators, *Eurostat, data reported by member states to the European Commission (late 2005)
6. National legislation on waste (selected)
| National regulations | Exists or not (Y/N) | Reference (if available) |
|---|---|---|
| Landfill | Y | JMD 29407/3508/2002 (OJG 1572B/2002) on measures and terms for sanitary disposal (harmonization with the EU Directive 99/31/EC) |
| Incineration | Y | Joint Ministerial Decision 22912/1117/2005 which defines measures and terms for the prevention and reduction of environmental pollution and the incineration of waste. |
| BMW (Bio-degradable municipal waste) | ? | - |
| Packaging | Y | JMD 31784/954/1990 (OJG 251B/1990)
Law 2939/2001 |
| End-of Life Vehicles / Tyres | Y | Laws2939/2001, Presidential Decrees (PD) 116/2004 (ELV), 109/2004 (tyres) |
| Waste of electrical and electronic equipment | Y | Law 2939/2001, PD 117/2004 |
| Batteries | Y | Law 2939/2001, PD 115/2004 |
| Construction/demolition waste | ? | - |
7. Competent authorities
This hyperlink will direct you to Competent Authorities on eionet wastebase
8. Bibliography
- Greece Country Profile - National Reporting to the Twelfth Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development of the United Nations (UN CSD 12) Athens, March 2004
- Hellenic Republic - Ministry for the Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works - National Strategy for Sustainable Development – Greece. Athens, May 2002
- Hellenic Ministry of Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works link
- Hellenic Ministry of Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works, National Strategy for the reduction of the biodegradable fraction of municipal waste, 2003
- George Andreou - Multilevel governance - EU Landfill Directive in Greece. OEUE Organising for EU Enlargement - (09/2004)
- S. Skoulaxinou1, A. Mavropoulos, A. Karkazi1, K.E. Lasaridi “Developing the strategy for biodegradable waste management in Greece” (2004), 1. EPEM S.A., Athens, Greece, 2. Harokopion University, Athens, Greece
- Tsalavoutas, Spyros; Kapoutsis, Giannis; Zahilas, Loukas - Survey of the Greek recycling sector. Leonardo Pilot Project Recy-Occupation Athens, February 2002
- European Composting Network - Greece Country Report