By decision of the Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance, Nikos Papathanasis, following consultation with the Minister of Environment and Energy, Stavros Papastavrou, a call for proposals is issued under the title “Integrated Urban Waste Management to Achieve Long-Term Recycling and Circular Economy Goals in the Country’s Regions” under the NSRF Program “Environment and Climate Change 2021-2027.”
The new Call is addressed to the country’s administratively competent Solid Waste Management Agencies (SWMAs), for which the relevant Holistic Plan for Separate Collection (HPSC) has been approved by the Ministry of Environment and Energy, and has the following objectives:
• the creation of Recovery and Recycling Units (MAA) that will primarily receive and process separately collected municipal waste streams and, secondarily, residual mixed waste, with the aim of recovering high-quality materials for recycling, including the production of high-quality compost, and subsequently recovering materials for other recovery operations, as well as minimizing treatment residues destined for landfilling,
• the completion of phased Waste Treatment Plant (WTP) projects from the 2014–2020 Programming Period by converting them into Integrated Waste Management Facilities (IWMFs), as well as the conversion of existing, completed WTPs into IWMFs.
• the completion of segmented landfill projects from the 2014-2020 Programming Period, provided that they are included in the same operation as the corresponding WTP/WTP or WMB, provided that disposal at these landfills concerns treatment residues from the corresponding MSW or/and MSW treatment facilities.
• the implementation of other supporting infrastructure required for integrated municipal waste management, such as Transfer Stations.
• the acquisition of separate collection equipment for the main streams of municipal waste, such as biowaste, recyclables, green waste, and bulky waste. (excluding waste covered by extended producer responsibility).
For the inclusion of operations, confirmation is required from the Ministry of Environment and Energy that the projects contribute to the targets of the relevant Regional Waste Management Plan (PESDA) and, for separate collection equipment, that it is included in the Holistic Plan for Separate Collection, which has been drafted by the Regional Waste Management Authorities (FODSA) for each region of the country.
The Call has a total budget of €480,000,000 and is co-financed by the Cohesion Fund and national resources.
The submission of proposals begins the day after the Call is published, and the deadline for submission is April 30, 2027.
The implementation of the above infrastructure, combined with separate collection networks for distinct streams of municipal waste, will result in the promotion of recycling targets in every region of the country, in accordance with the current National Waste Management Plan (ESDA) and the corresponding Regional Waste Management Plans (PESDA).