well as the intermunicipal one from Heraklion Crete. Many OSWM face financial
liquidity problems and are unable to cover their obligations. In an effort to rationalise
the process, Law 4555/2018 foresees the demolition of the existing OSWM and the
creation of one per prefecture (Lawpost 2019). However, due to administrative and
financial problems, the reorganisation has not yet materialised.
The National Organisation of Recycling (ΕOAN) is the responsible body of the
Ministry of Environment and Energy for the design and implementation of policies
for the prevention and alternative management of packaging and other products
(EOAN 2019). It is responsible for approving national alternative product management systems, as well as for monitoring Greece’s progress in recycling.
The Systems of Alternative Management (SED) are private, profit-oriented,
officially licenced enterprises collecting specific waste streams for recycling. Such
systems include the large, generic Hellenic Recovery Recycling Corporation
(HERRCO) collecting in the same blue bins the basic recyclable materials and
smaller, specialised collection streams (batteries and accumulators, electrical and
electronic equipment, packaging and packaging waste, end life cycle vehicles,
excavation construction and demolition waste, used vehicle tyres and lubricating
oil waste) (HERRCO 2019; EOAN 2019). State aid rules applied here in the past and
have caused bureaucratic delays. These systems are now reluctant to any governance
changes, because the SED and the reorganisation of OSWM address the same
market.
Funding is organised in a top-down and bottom-up mix: The Ministry, at the
central level, has adopted its unrealistically ambitious National Programme for
Waste Management (NPWM). All 332 municipalities of the country
4 had to come
up with local waste management plans (LWMP), which would align with the
ambitious targets of the NPWM. An indicative target set centrally was that 60% of
biowaste had to be forwarded for composting. This was unachievable within the time
limits foreseen. Once the municipalities adopted their LWMP, the corresponding
(higher level administration) regional authorities
5 aggregated their suggestions into
Regional Waste Management Plans (RWMP).
Figure 12.2 presents an overview of the system based on the experience of the
programming period 2014–2020. However, a major change occurred in 2019, with
the introduction of the circular economy strategy described below.
12.4.4 The Greek National CE Strategy (NCES)
The Ministry of Environment and Energy is precipitating the CE transition
recognising its potential value. Two Secretaries-General are appointed, one with a
4 Municipalities carry the responsibility for waste management in their territory.
5 Regional authorities carry the responsibility for the implementation of the ESIF co-funded
regional O.P.
12 Circular Economy in National Smart Specialisation Strategies: The Case of Greece
211
liquidity problems and are unable to cover their obligations. In an effort to rationalise
the process, Law 4555/2018 foresees the demolition of the existing OSWM and the
creation of one per prefecture (Lawpost 2019). However, due to administrative and
financial problems, the reorganisation has not yet materialised.
The National Organisation of Recycling (ΕOAN) is the responsible body of the
Ministry of Environment and Energy for the design and implementation of policies
for the prevention and alternative management of packaging and other products
(EOAN 2019). It is responsible for approving national alternative product management systems, as well as for monitoring Greece’s progress in recycling.
The Systems of Alternative Management (SED) are private, profit-oriented,
officially licenced enterprises collecting specific waste streams for recycling. Such
systems include the large, generic Hellenic Recovery Recycling Corporation
(HERRCO) collecting in the same blue bins the basic recyclable materials and
smaller, specialised collection streams (batteries and accumulators, electrical and
electronic equipment, packaging and packaging waste, end life cycle vehicles,
excavation construction and demolition waste, used vehicle tyres and lubricating
oil waste) (HERRCO 2019; EOAN 2019). State aid rules applied here in the past and
have caused bureaucratic delays. These systems are now reluctant to any governance
changes, because the SED and the reorganisation of OSWM address the same
market.
Funding is organised in a top-down and bottom-up mix: The Ministry, at the
central level, has adopted its unrealistically ambitious National Programme for
Waste Management (NPWM). All 332 municipalities of the country
4 had to come
up with local waste management plans (LWMP), which would align with the
ambitious targets of the NPWM. An indicative target set centrally was that 60% of
biowaste had to be forwarded for composting. This was unachievable within the time
limits foreseen. Once the municipalities adopted their LWMP, the corresponding
(higher level administration) regional authorities
5 aggregated their suggestions into
Regional Waste Management Plans (RWMP).
Figure 12.2 presents an overview of the system based on the experience of the
programming period 2014–2020. However, a major change occurred in 2019, with
the introduction of the circular economy strategy described below.
12.4.4 The Greek National CE Strategy (NCES)
The Ministry of Environment and Energy is precipitating the CE transition
recognising its potential value. Two Secretaries-General are appointed, one with a
4 Municipalities carry the responsibility for waste management in their territory.
5 Regional authorities carry the responsibility for the implementation of the ESIF co-funded
regional O.P.
12 Circular Economy in National Smart Specialisation Strategies: The Case of Greece
211