The European Courts have imposed a hefty fine on Greece after it held that the local authorities have not implemented a 2005 ruling on the country’s illegal landfills. According to the 2005 ruling, Greece was found to not take sufficient measures to close down and rehabilitate the several hundred illegal landfills operating throughout the country.
As such, the Courts decided to impose a 10 million euro fine and a further 14.52 million euros for every six months that the Greek government fails to address the ruling. The bi-annual fine will progressively be reduced depending on the progress in shutting down and rehabilitating illegal sites.
According to EU legislation, each member state has the duty to collect and manage the waste it produces without jeopardizing public health and the environment, while taking appropriate measures to protect against littering and the creation of illegal landfills. Each landfill site must be certified by local authorities.
