One of the largest waste management projects in the history of the South Aegean islands is on track for implementation, with the announcement of the tender for the construction of three new Waste Recovery and Recycling Units (WRUs) in Mykonos, Paros and Syros.
The project, with a total budget of 194.92 million euros, is part of the Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) and marks the completion of the planning for the “heavy” waste management infrastructure in the Cyclades and Dodecanese.
As the Governor of the South Aegean, Giorgos Hadjimarkos, emphasizes in a post, this specific project constitutes strategic infrastructure for the circular economy and environmental sustainability of the islands, leading to a “greener tomorrow”. The relevant funding was approved by the Interministerial PPP Committee, while the green light for the tender was given by the Board of Directors of the South Aegean Solid Waste Management Agency and the Regional Committee.
“This is the result of two years of persistent and methodical work, which would not have progressed without the daily cooperation with the Municipalities, the General Secretariat for PPP, the Ministry of Economy and the Secretary General of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Manolis Grafakos,” Mr. Hadjimarkos states characteristically.
The South Aegean Solid Waste Management Agency, which began its operation just three years ago, is now managing projects worth over 600 million euros, while, as the Regional Governor points out, the planning has been completed and the resources have been secured for all the islands of the Region. PPP projects in Rhodes, Santorini, Kos-Kalymnos, and now in Mykonos-Paros-Syros, are flanked by dozens of even smaller but substantial interventions.
After the completion of the infrastructure, the planning is now focused on recycling, composting and the transition of islands to “Zero Waste” models, following the example of Tilos.
