The municipal authority informs with a press release about the development of the landfill project in Kythera and Antikythera. Also in the press release it is mentioned about the cooperation with EDSNA and the implementation of the Source Separation System with a Network of Bins for Discrete Flows (paper, plastic, metals, biowaste, mixed waste and glass) in order to increase the recycling rate. Read more.
Operation of Kythera Landfill
Η implementation of the Kythera landfill site -as well as the small Antikythera landfill site- and the simultaneous rehabilitation of the two old landfills (Uncontrolled Waste Disposal Sites), directly and definitively resolves the issue of solid waste management on our islands, which has been the subject of discussions and consultations for decades, while the elimination of the annual fine of 320,000 € imposed for several years in our country by the European Union, especially for the 2 uncontrolled landfills of the Municipality of Kythera (80.000€/semester/HDA).
The project of the rehabilitation of the landfills of Kythera and Antikythera, the construction of a landfill in Kythera and a small landfill in Antikythera and the creation of a bio-waste composting plant is the result of a long process of different municipal and regional authorities, as such large and visionary projects require a long process of design, maturation, licensing, financing and implementation.
The Act was financed by European Regional Development Fund, through the PEP Attica 2014 - 2020, and is an example of effective cooperation between first and second level local authorities and the optimal use of Community resources of a Regional Programme. This project and the procedures that were applied (maturity studies from the Attica Regional Development Plan 2007-2013, programmatic contract between the Municipality and the Region, project funding from the Attica Regional Development Plan 2014 - 2020), constitute good practice and a guide for solving similar issues in other regions of our country.
This is also stated in the Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms of the European Commission Elisa Ferreira in its message about the project. It notes «Kythera has shown that it is possible to build a better future. I congratulate you on your success and we are counting on you to make Kythera and Greece pioneers in modern and sustainable solid waste management.».
The project has already shown and proven its importance for the future of Kythera, since our island is fairly and objectively characterized as one of the cleanest in Greece, at a time when large island and tourist municipalities are still facing huge problems with waste management.
The rehabilitation of the Kythera landfill site in Lachnos is exemplary and the operation of the landfill is excellent, despite the continuous progress of works, which can be seen by anyone who visits the site. Moreover, this is confirmed in the relevant reports of the Managing Authority of the Attica Regional Development Programme.
We also note that after months of consultations between the Municipality of Kythera and the Mayor Mr. Efstris Harhalakis personally with the Special Intergradation Association of Attica (EDSNA), the organization and operation of the waste management facilities (composting and landfill) has been entrusted to EDSNA (and through this to a private party through an electronic open tender) and thus the Municipality is definitively disengaged (administratively and financially) from the operation of a modern and demanding project, which with the existing staff would be unable to operate.
The proper functioning of the landfill depends, of course, on the quantities and type of waste that ends up there. For this reason, a Composting Unit for the management of bio-waste has been installed at the Landfill, which will soon be operational, while our Municipality is systematically and effectively promoting the recycling of materials. More specifically, in 2022, 227.28 tonnes of recyclable materials (Blue bins) and 7.2 tonnes of glass were transferred to the Recycling Materials Sorting Centre (CRC), while the corresponding figures in 2019 were 58 tonnes and 0!
At the same time, with funding from the PHILODIMOS programme, the delivery (early summer) is expected to take place. one more new press-type refuse collection vehicle, following the 2 new vehicles operating from 2019 under the project. Thus, for the first time after almost 25 years (since the Development Association era), new waste collection vehicles are received and operating in Kythera.
We note, finally, that the planning of the Municipality, in cooperation with EDSNA, includes the implementation of a Source Separation System with a network of Bins for Discrete Flows (paper, plastic, metals, biowaste, mixed waste and glass), Recycling Corners and a Green Point, in order to increase the recycling rate and further reduce the volume of waste that ends up in the landfill.
You can see the relevant Project Report Album here:
You can watch the video here:
