Reducing Waste

As in much of Greece, waste management plans around the Argolic Gulf have much room for improvement. High percentages of municipal and agricultural waste end up burnt or buried in unregulated landfills leading to local pollution and working counter to national and European targets for waste reduction and the development of a circular economy.

This source of environmental degradation also constitutes a missed opportunity, as much of this waste comprises useful materials that could be used in new products, or for the production of high-quality compost. Meanwhile, many of the single-use plastics that end up in landfills (or worse, the natural environment) could be replaced with compostable or recyclable alternatives.

Aside from the significant environmental impacts, maintaining the status quo will also frustrate efforts to upgrade the tourism economy of the region, as visitors increasingly demand better environmental practices in the areas where they choose to spend their holidays and seek to enjoy healthier living.

A strategic priority for the AEF will be to support efforts large and small to reduce waste and promote recycling and composting. We invite every municipality and community of the Argolic Gulf to commit to working towards the ultimate goal of a Zero Waste economy, realizable through one realistic step at a time.

In parallel, working with local fishers and other stakeholders, the AEF will also fund clean-up operations of ghost nets and other marine and terrestrial waste that impacts local natural beauty and poses a threat to wildlife including iconic species such as loggerhead turtles and monk seals.