Official decision of meeting on post-fire waste management

As soon as possible, Goggakis company must proceed with the spraying of the waste in order to neutralise it and render it harmless, so that it can be transported to a sanitary landfill site outside Corfu. 

This was the decision of the meeting held at the Ministry of Environment on Tuesday afternoon, under the chairmanship of the Secretary-General for Solid Waste Management, Mr. Grafakos.

The Central Corfu Municipality issued an extensive statement on the matter:

In response to the legitimate concerns expressed by our fellow citizens—particularly residents of Alepou—regarding the major fire that broke out at midnight on Thursday, October 17, and destroyed the facilities of Goggakis S.A. (food trade and distribution), as well as the consequences arising from the decay of large quantities of animal and plant-based food, the Municipality wishes to inform the public as follows:

1.The Municipal Civil Protection Service, in the presence of the Deputy Mayor responsible, assisted the Fire Service throughout the night-long firefighting operation with all available resources and personnel.

2. On the morning of Saturday, October 18, the Mayor, accompanied by the Deputy Mayor for Health and in the presence of the Regional Governor, visited the facilities of the affected company and held a meeting with the company’s owner.

3. In the afternoon of the same day, the Mayor and Deputy Mayor took part in a meeting held at the offices of the Regional Unit of Corfu (former Prefecture), attended by representatives of the Ionian Islands Regional Authority, the Solid Waste Management Authority (FODSA), and the company Goggakis S.A.

4. During that meeting, it was determined that the most appropriate solution for the transport and disposal of the waste (spoiled food) could only be provided by a certified waste management company, which does not exist on Corfu. Initial efforts were therefore made to contact such companies outside the island, though without success.

5. On Sunday, October 19, communications continued between the Regional Governor, the Mayor, the relevant Ministries, services, and other agencies, with the aim of resolving this unprecedented issue for the local context.

6. On Monday, October 20, the health inspection report from the competent services of the Ionian Islands Regional Authority was sent to the Mayor and eight other recipients (Ministries, Region, Services, etc.), highlighting, among other things, the immediate and serious risk to public health.

7. As days passed and the sanitary problem worsened, serious concerns and complaints were expressed by residents of the Alepou area, which were conveyed to the Municipality through the Community President.

8. The issue of waste removal was examined by the competent service of the Ministry of Environment on Tuesday, October 21, with the aim of achieving a definitive resolution, and further developments on this matter are expected.

9. Based on the information gathered from our ongoing contacts with the relevant authorities, the following points are highlighted:

a) The management of this specific category of waste must be carried out in full compliance with safety regulations, beginning with their neutralisation to halt decomposition.

b) The transportation of the waste for sanitary burial must be performed using appropriate vehicles.

c) The option of sanitary burial on Corfu appears to be excluded, as there is no authorised disposal site on the island.

Finally, it is noted that matters relating to the management of waste resulting from the fire are governed by Presidential Decree 148/2009 on environmental liability, based on the “polluter pays” principle (as implemented under the relevant EU Directive), as well as by the provisions of Article 41 of Law 4819/2021.

GIORGOS KATSAITIS