The modern, socially responsible and fully integrated waste management in the Peloponnese Region, Greece, becomes a reality as of today, following the relevant amendment of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Agreement for the Integrated Waste Management of this region, signed between the Peloponnese Region Authority and the entity “Perivallontiki of Peloponnese’’, member of TERNA ENERGY Group.

The signing of the amended Partnership Agreement facilitates the Intermediate Waste Management period in the units of the project that have already been completed (Transitional  Waste Management Unit in Paleochouni, County of Arcadia and Waste Transfer Station in Nea Kios, County of Argolida), providing modern waste management services with the environmental protection as core priority and ensuring that public health requirements are met, offering at the same time multiple benefits to local communities which function as vital parts of the circular economy.

The agreement was signed by the Peloponnese Regional Governor Mr. Panagiotis Nikas, the CEO of TERNA ENERGY Mr. Manolis Maragoudakis and the CEO of the Perivallontiki of Peloponnese, Mr. George Agrafiotis,  at the offices of the Peloponnese Region in Tripoli, County of Arcadia.

This development today marks the beginning of the end with regard to the various environmental issues plaguing the Peloponnese Region for over 30 years, covering not only the current EU directives but also prospective ones, as the implementation of the project achieves high environmental benefits through the largest Integrated Waste Management PPP scheme currently under construction in Greece.

When the project is fully operational, landfill 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 will be created during the construction period and 200 permanent jobs will emerge during the operating period (27 years). These benefits in terms of employment do not include the indirect jobs and benefits that will be generated (in areas such as transport, marketing of recyclables, accommodation of personnel, environmental school excursions, etc.).

In total, the project concerns an investment of 152 million Euros (62.5 of which derive from NSRF – National Strategic Reference Framework funding) which refers to the construction and operation of the following:

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

• Three (3) Sanitary Landfills Sites

• Two (2) Waste Transfer Stations

The units described above have been located in the counties of Arcadia, Messinia and Laconia, whereas the Waste Transfer Stations have been located in the counties of Corinth and Argolida. By this manner, the waste materials will be collected at a distance of less than 50 kilometres from the capitals of the counties / prefectures of Peloponnese Region, 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.