Official announcement from Environment Ministry regarding removal of waste from Corfu - without cost to locals

The Ministry for the Environment and Energy issued a press release today, 31 October regarding yesterday's meeting about waste management in Corfu.

The press release confirms that waste will be removed from Corfu for 3 years (until the end of 2022) at no cost to Corfu residents as funding will come from the ESPA Programme as well as the current income and resources of the three Corfu Municipalities.

The Ministry Statement

"There was a meeting at the Ministry for the Environment yesterday, 20/10, called by the Ministry's General Secretary for Waste Management Manolis Grafakos about the serious problem that Corfu has with waste management.

Taking part in the meeting were the three local MPs Stefanos  Alexandros Avlonitis and Dimitris Biangis; Ionian Islands Regional Governor Rodi Kratsa; Mayors Meropi Ydraiou, Central Corfu, Konstantinos Lessis, South Corfu and Giorgos Mahimaris, North Corfu.

Also present were representatives from DIADYMA (West Macedonia Waste Management), Hellenic Recovery Recycling Corporation, the Organisation for Transport, Environment and Sustainable Development Infrastructure and Corfu Waste Management Association as well as the island's Waste management contract companies.

Waste management is currently Corfu's biggest problem as it has an impact on residents' everyday life and is damaging its tourist image.

The Ministry's plan, created after discussion with all those involved, was presented at the meeting.

The main points, agreed by all those present, are as follows:

1. To move forward as quickly as possible with the permanent solution of an Integrated Waste Management facility in Temploni. Tenders will be invited for the project in early 2020 with a view to the work being completed by the end of 2022.

2. Immediate support of recycling on the island with the collaboration of the Hellenic Recovery Recycling Corporation and the creation of a network for sorting and biowaste management as soon as possible. In this way the volume of waste going for processing will be reduced.

3. For three years - from the end of 2019 to the end of 2022 - the island's waste will be taken to the DIADYMA waste management facility in Kozani, West Macedonia to be processed to the facility's high standards of quality. A pre-condition is the approval of the DIADYMA Board.

4. There will be no charge to residents for the waste management plan from now to the end of 2021 nor will there be requests from the Corfu Municipalities for extra funding from the State. Current income and resources from the Corfu Municipalities will be used as well as funds from the ESPA Programme.

Based on the above, which provides a definitive solution to the island's waste problem, the Ministry for the Environment, Regional and Local Authorities and all those involved will specify their next steps to implement what was agreed."