Another milestone for waste management in the Peloponnese Prefecture was reached today, as the first garbage trucks from the Municipalities of Oichalia and Trifylia have arrived at the Intermediate Waste Management Unit in Kallirroi.

Today’s development marks the beginning of sound and safe waste management in Messinia and paves the way for the start of the integrated waste management within the next 14 months.

Among the multiple advantages of the new unit is the fact that the landfill is located close to the unit, which allows to minimize the transport of waste.

When the project “Integrated Waste Management of Peloponnese Prefecture” will be fully operational, waste burial will be prevented and at least 65% of biodegradable materials will be utilized, 50,000 tons of liquid waste will be diverted from landfills, and green energy will be generated to serve the needs of 6,000 households, while avoiding release of 24,000 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

In the context of this project, 800 jobs have already been created during the construction period and 200 permanent jobs will emerge during the operating period, i.e. for the next almost 30 years (27 years). These benefits in terms of employment do not include the indirect jobs and benefits that will be generated from the operation of the project in the area (in areas such as transport, marketing of recyclables, accommodation of personnel etc.).

In total, the Integrated Waste Management of Peloponnese Prefecture represents an investment of 152 million Euros (62.5 of which derive from NSRF – National Strategic Reference Framework funding) which corresponds to the construction and operation of the following:

• Three (3) Intermediate Management Units and three (3) Waste Processing Units with a total capacity of 200,000 tons / year

• Three (3) Sanitary Landfill Sites

• Two (2) Waste Transfer Stations

The units described above have been located in the regions of Arcadia, Messinia and Laconia, whereas the Waste Transfer Stations have been located in the regions of Corinth and Argolida. By this manner, the waste materials will be collected at a distance of less than 50 kilometers from the capitals of the regions of Peloponnese Prefecture, contributing to the minimization of transport requirements from the respective Municipalities.

The project, by using state-of-the-art technology, implements most of the Peloponnese Regional Waste Management Plan, operates alongside and in addition to the Local Recycling Programs of municipalities, and applies the best practices when it comes to the principles of circular economy.   

The Peloponnese Prefect Mr. Panagiotis Nikas, during his visit to the unit, on its first day of operation, noted: “After several and serious obstacles and problems, which we eventually overcame, the new waste management unit in Kallirroi – which will serve the six municipalities of the Messinia Regional Unit – has commenced its operation. The start of this unit puts an end to the anxiety of the municipal authorities of Messinia regarding waste management, but also to the unpleasant phenomenon – mainly from an environmental, but also aesthetic, point of view – of uncontrolled landfills and piles of garbage in various areas.”

The Prefect of Peloponnese, Mr. P. Nikas – who was accompanied by the Deputy Prefect of Messinia, Mr. Andreas Tsoukalas – and the President of FODSA Peloponnese, Mr. Stavros Argitakos, were informed on the spot about this new unit on behalf of TERNA Energy by the Deputy Managing Director, Mr. Giorgos Agrafiotis, the Project Manager of the Peloponnese Integrated Waste Management project, Mr. Charalambos Charalambidis, the Technical Director of Environmental Projects, Mr. George Paschalis, as well as the Construction Director of Environmental Projects, Mr. Nikos Tsarnas.