[InTime News]
Greece continues to bury 78% of its trash in landfills, recycles very little – just 17% – and uses a very small amount of trash to generate energy.
Moreover, municipalities who were supposed to pay a sort of fine to the national recycling agency, EOAN, owe a staggering amount and were excused from paying these fines this year after a near-revolt.
The amount owed by the municipalities since the second half of 2023 is estimated at €165 million. Late last year, they were asked to pay €119 million, which would count as a forward payment for the trash that will be buried in landfills in 2025.
After a few weeks of furtive discussions, and complaints by mayors that payment would blow up their budgets, they were recently informed that the state budget contained no new revenue for EOAN this year and that, therefore, they would pay nothing.