The recycling program of the Municipality of Thessaloniki is under scrutiny by the prosecutor! He ordered a preliminary investigation into environmental degradation, following a complaint by a municipal councilor from the «Ecology-Solidarity» faction about the mixing of recyclable materials with other waste. The investigation has been assigned to the Greek Police, which has already taken a statement and evidence from the complainant, Michalis Tremopoulos, while, according to the prosecutor's order, employees of the Central Municipality's Cleaning Department, among others, are to testify as witnesses.

Michalis Tremopoulos, municipal councilor for Ecology-Solidarity, confirmed the alleged incident, which he himself filmed on April 15. The footage shows a Thessaloniki municipal garbage truck dumping recyclable materials from the underground bins in the city center along with other garbage! «With this practice,» said the environmentalist city councilor, «the municipality is violating Greek and European law and at the same time undermining the credibility of the recycling system in the eyes of citizens.» He asked the investigating authorities to summon the employees of the garbage truck in question, presenting the written order they had been given by their department.

In addition, Michalis Tremopoulos submitted the Special Report of the Ombudsman on recycling, which highlights, based on reports from the relevant authorities, that recyclable products are being disposed of in landfills and waste disposal sites in Thessaloniki and other municipalities across the country. He also submitted all relevant legislation, directives, and contracts between the municipality and KDAY Sindos, EEA, regulatory acts, and other documents which, he claims, the Municipality of Thessaloniki is violating.

«The unacceptable policy of the Zerva administration and the inadequate recycling system have resulted in the recovery of packaging materials amounting to only 8%-9% of total production,» he says, adding: «Based on the EU average of 177 kg per capita, packaging waste production amounts to approximately 57,000 tons per year for the Municipality of Thessaloniki. The corresponding amount collected and transported to the Sindos Waste Management Facility in 2019 amounted to only 20,174 tons, or approximately 35% of the packaging waste produced.

»At KDAU, the recovery of packaging materials in relation to the incoming quantity of packaging waste amounts to 65%-70% (12,964 tons for 2019). Consequently, the recovered packaging waste is in the order of 23%-25% of the packaging waste produced. And all this while the EU recycling target is 65% by weight of total packaging waste by 31-12-2025, according to Directive 94/62/EC. It is clear that the city needs a different policy.