After much umbrage, Greece may have to overturn its 2024 pricing policy for waste disposal “burial fees” for municipalities. A decision from Greece’s Council of State on the matter is expected on Wednesday.
Earlier this year, a new pricing policy by the Special Intermunicipal Association of Attica (EDSNA) significantly raised burial fees for the 66 municipalities in Attica. The total cost was set to rise from €93 million in 2024 to €203 million in 2025, covering 18 months.
A “burial fee” refers to the cost charged to municipalities for disposing of waste in landfills. The fee is typically calculated based on the amount of waste buried.
“Burial fees” are intended to encourage recycling and waste reduction by making landfill disposal more expensive.
The Central Union of Municipalities of Greece (KEDKE) and 164 municipalities have challenged the burial fee in the Council of State, seeking its annulment for being excessive.
Athens Mayor Haris Doukas joined in the critique in an op-ed published in To Vima on Wednsday, stating that citizens are paying for an expensive yet ineffective service. He criticized the lack of a comprehensive regional waste management plan, noting that most waste, including recyclables, is still sent to landfills regardless. (In Greece over 80% of waste ends up in landfills, and according to the EU the country’s recycling rate is 16% at most.)
The Attica Regional Governor, Nikos Hardalias, stated that the region will not act as a tax collector for the government and called for legislative action to resolve the issue. The burial fee controversy seems to have united local governments against the policy, urging the Interior Ministry to provide a different solution.
In December Greece was censured by the EU for its waste management practices. Greece failed to meet standards under the Landfill Directive (Directive 1999/31/EC) and Waste Framework Directive (Directive 2008/98/EC) and the EU cited 84 non-compliant landfills and the absence of an integrated and adequate waste management network. The Commission issued a reasoned opinion and stated Greece didn’t respond and take measures within 2 months, the case will be forwarded to the Court of Justice of the EU.
