One of the key topics of this year’s Elafonisos Eco Week was “Waste and Water Management.” During the conferences on the first day, Manolis Grafakos, General Secretary of Waste Management at the Greek Ministry of Environment and Energy, emphasized that instead of just exchanging kind words, real action needs to follow. Supporting the island through the Green Fund was, in his view, a responsibility, not something that required thanks. He acknowledged the efforts of both the Ministry and local authorities in working together to improve the situation on the island.
He went on to highlight the broader progress in waste management across Greece over the past five and a half years. Through public-private partnerships, three major waste management projects are already operational in the Peloponnese, with 13 functioning across the country and 24 more under construction. He noted that contracts for new projects in major cities like Thessaloniki, Kavala, and Corfu are also being signed, signaling a turning point in national waste strategy.
Manolis Grafakos emphasized the importance of supporting small island and mountain municipalities, which often lack sufficient staff and face seasonal challenges. He pointed to the need for state support in improving recycling systems in these areas. Citing the success of the Telos Zero Waste project, developed through private initiative and embraced at all levels of government, he expressed hope that similar initiatives could be replicated on other islands.
Finally, he invited the local community, the municipality, private partners like TERNA, and Elafonisos Eco to collaboratively design a waste management system with separate waste streams, adapted specifically to the island’s needs. He closed by thanking everyone involved and expressed optimism about working together to build a better, more sustainable future for the next generation.