The management of waste in Kefalonia has been a complex and much-discussed topic in recent years. From the creation of the Intermunicipal Cleanliness and Environmental Protection Company of Kefalonia in 1984 to the recent changes with the introduction of the new Solid Waste Management Agency (FODSA), the issue of waste collection and management has seen many developments and challenges.
Historical Overview and Successes of the Intermunicipal Company
The Intermunicipal Company was established in 1984 by then-Mayor of Argostoli, Alekos Kalafatis, in collaboration with the Mayor of Lixouri, Makis Theotokatos, and 33 other communities on the island. This initiative was characterized by pioneering actions for Greece, which included beach cleaning programs, recycling, and biotope sanitation. Notably, Kefalonia was the first Greek island to implement a beach cleaning program in 1996, and since 2008, it started recycling packaging materials in collaboration with the Hellenic Recovery Recycling Corporation S.A.
The Intermunicipal Company was recognized and honored for its actions, as evidenced by the 1996 KEDE conference in Argostoli, with the presence of ministers and European Union officials.
Waste Management and the Role of EDAKI
EDAKI (Kefalonia and Ithaca Waste Management Company S.A. OTA) is responsible for the collection and transportation of waste (green bins) and recycling (blue bins), as well as purple bins in most areas of the island.
From January 1, 2021, a relevant law removed part of the EDAKI OTA's responsibilities, which concern the management of solid waste. Since then, their responsibilities are limited to the collection and transportation of municipal solid waste (residual mixed and other streams of recyclable materials). More specifically, the responsibilities of EDAKI OTA are recorded under Law 4555/2018 as follows:
- 1. The first-level local authorities have the following responsibilities:
a. Drafting and implementing the Local Waste Management Plan (LWMP) as per paragraph g of article 2 of Joint Ministerial Decision no. 51373/4684/2015 (B'2706) within the administrative boundaries of the respective municipality, forming the basis for contracts the municipality signs with Alternative Management Systems and other waste management bodies. The LWMP must comply with the relevant Regional Waste Management Plan (RWMP),
b. Drafting programs for waste reduction and preparation for reuse,
c. Organizing and implementing the separation at the source of municipal waste within their administrative boundaries according to the relevant LWMP and RWMP,
d. Organizing and implementing separate collection for at least four distinct streams of recyclable waste materials, namely glass, paper, plastics, and metals from municipal waste, either independently or in cooperation with Alternative Management Systems, in accordance with Law 2939/2001,
e. Organizing and implementing separate collection of biowaste from catering establishments, households, large producers, and green waste from parks and gardens,
f. Collecting and transporting the remaining mixed municipal waste and pre-sorted waste after source separation to suitable recycling, recovery, or disposal facilities, subject to the provisions of the relevant RWMP,
g. Eliminating uncontrolled disposal of municipal waste and restoring existing uncontrolled waste disposal sites,
h. Informing and raising awareness among residents and businesses operating within their administrative boundaries,
i. Planning and implementing programs for waste reduction and measures to promote the hierarchy of waste management actions aimed at minimizing final disposal of municipal waste,
j. Subject to Article 3, preparing projects and actions under the LWMP for processing municipal waste generated within their administrative boundaries, and submitting them for funding from operational or European programs as the final beneficiary,
k. Promoting actions and implementing projects contributing to the circular economy,
l. Recording all necessary data in the "Integrated Waste Management Information System" developed by the General Secretariat for Coordination and Waste Management of the Ministry of the Interior to monitor the progress of waste management projects and the qualitative and quantitative targets of the RWMP. Details may be determined by a joint decision of the Minister of the Interior and any other competent Minister.
- First-level local authorities may:
a. Construct and operate Green Points under Article 21 of Law 4447/2016, subject to the provisions of the relevant RWMP,
b. Implement and operate Recycling Sorting Centers (KDAY) up to Category B of the 4th group "Environmental Infrastructure Systems" of Ministerial Decision no. 37674/2016, subject to the provisions of the relevant RWMP,
Implement and operate Waste Transfer Stations (WTS) up to Category B of the 4th group "Environmental Infrastructure Systems" of Ministerial Decision no. 37674/2016, subject to the provisions of the relevant RWMP,
d. Construct and operate Biowaste Processing Units up to Category B of the 4th group "Environmental Infrastructure Systems" of Ministerial Decision no. 37674/2016, subject to the provisions of the relevant RWMP.
Step-by-Step Waste Management
Garbage trucks perform both mixed waste collection programs throughout Kefalonia (excluding Ithaca) and recycling material collection programs across the entire island (including Ithaca) every day of the year. Specifically, Kefalonia is divided into two periods based on tourist traffic, as explained by Gerasimos Fragiskatos, a geology graduate with a master's degree in water resources and environmental management and a special advisor at EDAKI. One period is the winter season (when waste collection needs are low), and the other is the summer months, characterized by high tourist demand, resulting in a higher frequency of collection routes.
Daily, garbage trucks start from the garage in the Argostoli Industrial Area (VI.PE.). During the months with low tourist traffic, the vehicles go out once a day early in the morning and perform six to seven routes. "We have divided the island into various areas - sub-sectors because each garbage truck has a specific capacity, and considering the needs of the areas, we create the schedule," adds Mr. Fragiskatos. Each collection program involves a driver and two collection workers. During this time of year (end of May - early June), the routes can reach 10-11 daily, while in August, it may approach 15 or 16 routes daily.
It is clarified that the contents of the green bins (mixed waste) are collected separately and transported separately to the Palosti landfill in Kefalonia, where the process of sanitary burial of waste follows. Previously, there was a factory that also did the waste separation, with the last time being in 2020. Today, although it does not exist, it is being upgraded by the Ionian Islands Region to operate again in a more modern way.
Moreover, the fact that Kefalonia has its own landfill significantly upgrades and facilitates the waste collection process, a feature evident in the good cleanliness of the island, as explained by Mr. Marketos Dimitrios, Deputy Mayor of Cleanliness of Lixouri Municipality. "In Kefalonia, we have our own landfill, and it is the only island in the Ionian Islands that has it, resulting in other islands spending a lot of money on waste removal. We have this advantage, so the island is indeed very clean," he specifically comments, speaking to kefalonianglobe.com..
Recycling: Present and Future
Recyclable materials are collected separately with special recycling garbage trucks for the blue bins (two streams with red and yellow lids) and transported for transshipment to a specially designed area at the Recyclable Material Transfer Station within the landfill. There, they are loaded into special containers and transported by road to the recycling sorting center in Agrinio.
It is worth noting that in Greece, recycling (blue bin) is organized by the Collective Alternative Management System and operated by the Hellenic Recovery Recycling Corporation. The corporation undertakes to make contracts (type 'a or 'b) with municipalities or EDAKI OTA. "With us, it made a type 'a contract, which includes the provision of equipment, i.e., the provision of bins and vehicles, and we subsequently bear the cost of personnel, the cost of collection and transportation (routing), and the cost of maintenance and repair of the vehicles. Furthermore, it is clarified that the transportation cost from Palosti to the Agrinio recycling center is covered by the Hellenic Recovery Recycling Corporation, not by EDAKI, which only supervises at this stage. Additionally, EDAKI does not benefit from the sale of materials after the recycling process," notes Mr. Fragiskatos.
Europe requires municipalities nationwide to recycle into four distinct streams (plastic, paper, glass, metal), with Kefalonia already having two of these for the past 10 years. These materials must be, collected, and delivered separately to the sorting centers where they will also be sorted separately on sorting lines. This process requires a huge investment cost, meaning, as the ί EDAKI special advisorί explains, many municipalities nationwide cannot cover it. Moreover, according to him, within the next few months (by the next fall at the latest), a third distinct recycling stream will be developed in Kefalonia (blue bell for glass packaging). These bins will be placed mainly in places with high glass production, such as catering establishments.
At this point, it is worth mentioning some enlightening numerical data and statistics provided to us by EDAKI. Specifically, "in all the municipalities of Kefalonia (Argostoli, Sami, Lixouri), we collected 20,567 tons of mixed waste (green bins) and 3,020 tons of recyclable materials (blue bins) in 2023. The recovery rate reached 9.2%. It may be good compared to other areas, but compared to European requirements and legislation, it remains low," emphasizes the EDAKI special advisor.
And he continues, adding that "however, it is very encouraging that citizen participation in recycling increases every year. Specifically, in 2021, 1,600 tons of recyclable material were collected, in 2022, it reached 2,600 tons, and in 2023, 3,020 tons. We are making a small step at a time compared to the past, but we still have a long way to go," commented Mr. Fragiskatos.
It is noted that the recovery rate (or recycling rate) is an indicator used to describe the effectiveness of the recycling process. Specifically, this rate expresses the percentage of materials collected for recycling that are ultimately reused or converted into new products.
In parallel, discussing recycling, it is necessary to make a special reference to the "Green Point", which will also be available to citizens in the coming months. But what exactly is the "Green Point"? According to Law 4042/2012 , a "Green Point" is defined as a space organized by first-degree local authorities, which is designated and equipped with appropriate infrastructure and equipment, allowing citizens to deposit separately collected recyclable urban waste or used items, so that these can be promoted for recycling or reuse. Green Points (GPs) are classified as small or large depending on the volume and categories of recyclable materials they accept, their operation, and the area they occupy. Green Points can also host public education and awareness activities.
The Green Point in Kefalonia is expected to be completed and made available for public use by mid-2025, as stated by Mr. Panagis Delakas, Deputy Head of the Directorate of Cleanliness and Green Spaces of the Argostoli municipality. According to him, the Green Point is planned to be located near the Argostoli Industrial Area (VI.PE.), with the study already completed and the project up for tender. It is worth noting that this central Green Point will serve all the municipalities of the island and will include containers for waste according to recycling streams. In other words, citizens will be able to bring their waste there and ensure quality recycling, as explained by Mr. Delakas. Additionally, there will be facilities for green waste, such as branches (composting).
Speaking more broadly about the attitude of residents towards recycling, Mr. Delakas emphasizes that "citizens are largely sensitized. However, we are obliged to provide solutions to give citizens options."
Purple Bins - A Great Initiative for Recycling Clothes and Shoes
The purple bins are exclusively for clothing, fabrics, and shoes. In this context, EDAKI collaborates with Recycom for sorting, a company founded in 2012 and the first Greek enterprise to implement an organized, scientific, and professional system for the integrated management of used clothing and footwear.
Specifically, as Mr. Fragiskatos explains, EDAKI is responsible for placing the purple bins on the island and carrying out the collection. So far, there are eight bins in Kefalonia (Argostoli municipality, Sami municipality, Ithaca municipality), with three located in the center of Argostoli, one in the Leivathous municipal community, and one more in the Eleios-Pronnoi municipal community. Additionally, the Sami municipality has two purple bins, and the Ithaca municipality has one bin. As for the Lixouri municipality, it has independently organized its own system by installing one purple bin, without the collaboration of EDAKI-OTA.
The collection schedule for the purple bins is similar to that of recycling. Specifically, a small truck runs regular routes depending on the season. It has been observed, as Mr. Fragiskatos points out, that during the spring and autumn months, the volume increases, likely because this is when the transition and sorting of summer and winter clothes usually take place. The truck passes by all the bins at least once a week, and then the items are gathered at the depot, transferred into special bags, and sent to Recycom for recycling.
Handling Increased Waste During the Tourist Season
With the tourist season on the island already underway, Mr. Panagis Delakas states that the Argostoli municipality is ready to handle the increased volume of waste since the municipality is also reinforced with additional personnel during the summer season. The Lixouri municipality is also prepared. Specifically, as Mr. Marketos Dimitrios mentioned, "From now on, as far as I know, garbage truck routes will be more frequent (including weekends and midday routes) and so we won't have any problems, just as we haven't had any so far." He also points out that the Lixouri municipality has recently acquired new bins (70 new green bins and 30 new blue bins).
Regarding the assistance from EDAKI during the tourist months, Mr. Gerasimos Fragiskatos, who had earlier noted that routes increase significantly as the number of visitors to the island rises, now also mentions an increase in staff. "We always want to be prepared for the worst-case scenario. We have a core workforce that is employed year-round (winter and summer), and we also hire seasonal staff (8-10 additional people) during the summer months," explained Gerasimos Fragiskatos.
In conclusion, it is clear that the significant efforts made over the years have brought the island of Kefalonia to a satisfactory level of cleanliness, both in appearance and feel. However, achieving the recycling goals set by European institutions and legislation requires further steps to become a reality.
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