An article by BBC correspondent Mark Lowen, entitled “Greece Waste: Mounds of Filth on an Island Paradise,” comments on the problem of waste management that Greece is facing.
The article describes the atmosphere at the Fyli landfill as suffocating, noting that 80% of waste is buried, which isĀ over twice the EU average.
According to Lowen, there is a recycling plant “still in its infancy” that only deals with a sixth of the total waste. Metal is removed for reuse, food is being composted, and some other items are converted into alternative fuel, mainly for the cement industry.
Olga Skiadi, the Director of Waste Treatment at Fyli, reported to BBC that, “Greece has been slow in dealing with waste.” She added that the country has Ā to build new recycling plants and generate energy recovery. She also believes it is mandatory that Greeks change their attitude towards the problem.
“Waste can’t just be dumped anywhere,” Skiadi said.
The British journalist points out that in 2005, the European Commission took Greece to court in order to force the closure of 1,100 illegal landfills. Eight years later, 70 of them are still functioning and Greece is threatened with a daily fine of 71,000 euros until they are eradicated.
“As Greece takes over the rotating presidency of the EU on January 1, it is in dispute with the very body it is supposed to run,” concluded the journalist.
Among others, Lowen is claiming that during the economic crisis, the argument of Greek people is that at least they have the beauty of their country, even though it is destroyed by a waste problem.
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