Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis referred to a clear institutional framework for any expenditure on recycling equipment and to 13 approved holistic plans, one for each Region of the country, responding during the briefing of political reporters to reports concerning the so-called “recycling kiosks.” At the same time, he did not provide an answer regarding who will undertake the recycling operations following the dispute between ESDNA and Texan, which has taken over recycling operations in Attica, the Peloponnese and Crete.

The government spokesperson was asked the following: “In recent days we have been reading several reports about the recycling kiosks, and there is talk of a new multi-million-euro scheme. Since in 2019 the Prime Minister had attended the inauguration of the production of such a machinery unit and had spoken about a fourfold benefit for citizens, yet recycling today remains at a very low level and far from the target that has been set, what has gone so wrong?”

Mr Marinakis responded by clarifying that the government “responds institutionally.” He added that he was “tired” of receiving questions about rumours and reports, particularly when they are connected to judicial cases. “We respond institutionally,” he said.

Mr Marinakis recalled that, as he had also stated during a previous briefing, the competent ministry has already provided three answers to parliamentary questions regarding this specific issue as part of parliamentary oversight.

Referring more broadly to recycling, the government spokesperson stressed that since September 2024 the government has introduced clear rules regarding how each investment in this sector is incorporated. As he explained, every recycling investment must now be included in a holistic plan for each Region, approved by the Ministry of Environment and Energy, which serves the objectives of the National Waste Management Plan and demonstrably contributes to achieving the country’s recycling targets.

According to Mr Marinakis, for the first time there are now 13 approved holistic plans from the Ministry of Environment and Energy, one for each Region, covering the entire country in terms of separate waste collection. These plans outline the necessary equipment for the separate collection of organic waste, recyclable materials, green waste and bulky waste.

The government spokesperson explained that each piece of equipment includes both investment and operational costs, while its contribution is also quantified according to each waste collection stream. “From now on, every expenditure on recycling equipment purchased by Waste Management Bodies (FOSDA) and municipalities and financed through EU funds, national resources or the landfill tax, must be included in the separate collection plan of the relevant FOSDA,” Mr Marinakis stated.

At the same time, he noted that funding for the acquisition of this specific equipment is secured through resources from the EU funding programmes and the landfill tax.

Regarding specifically the procurement of machinery through the new recycling system for the return of the deposit refund value, the government spokesperson clarified that this falls under the responsibility of the new organisation DRS Hellas. Similarly, regarding the suspension of operational support for recycling equipment by an economic operator towards ESDNA, Mr Marinakis stressed that the government has no involvement, as this is a matter of operation and responsibility of ESDNA.