One of the key topics of this year’s Elafonisos Eco Week was “Waste and Water Management.” During the conferences on the first day, Charalabos Charalabidis, Project Director at Terna Energy, began by praising the forum as a valuable institutional platform for open dialogue and collaboration, emphasizing the importance of public-private partnerships in achieving real progress in circular economy initiatives. He affirmed Terna Energy’s commitment to supporting these efforts long-term.
He highlighted that the Peloponnese has entered a new era in waste management, with three operational waste plants, including one in Skala Lakonia that serves Elafonisos. These plants process mixed waste and recover valuable resources such as paper, plastic, glass, and organic matter, while also producing energy and soil improvement substances. The facilities have already exceeded expectations thanks to cutting-edge technology, and plans are underway to upgrade them into advanced recycling and recovery centers.
He emphasized the broader impact of these projects, which have created 800 jobs, 200 of which are filled by local residents. He also noted growing interest among students from the National Technical University, who are beginning to see waste management as a promising career path. Going forward, he stressed the importance of building ecological awareness in schools and universities to sustain long-term change.
He concluded by underlining the intangible value of environmental protection, referencing how the elimination of landfills and liquid waste discharge has already transformed the landscape. The energy produced now serves 6,000 families. With a goal of reaching near-zero waste to landfill, he reaffirmed Terna’s support for the forum and its mission to leave a cleaner, better world for future generations.