The Hellenic Recycling Agency (HRA/EOAN) constitutes a public interest nonprofit independent entity, with full administrative and financial autonomy, supervised by the Ministry of Environment and Energy. Its main objective is the planning of the policy and the implementation of the legislation for the prevention and the alternative management (reuse-recovering-recycling) of packaging and other products waste, as defined in the laws 2939/2001 and 4496/2017.
Alternative waste management is a set of activities that include inter alia the collection and transport, transfer, temporary storage, reuse, recycling and recovery of specific waste streams, so that they are recovered and diverted from the waste stream that led to final disposal sites. There are many kinds of materials which can be reused, recycled or otherwise recovered rather than ending up in landfills. The benefits of alternative waste management, a crucial key of circular economy, are numerous, including not only the protection of the environment and the conservation of natural resources but also the promotion of sustainable development and the creation of new jobs.
The Hellenic Recycling Agency (HRA/EOAN) is the competent authority of the Ministry of Environment & Energy for the design and implementation of recycling policy in Greece. It is responsible for approving the national alternative management systems organized under Extended Producer Responsibility for each product and for monitoring the progress of recycling within the Hellenic territory.
The operation of EOAN, its objectives and responsibilities, are defined according to the law 2939/2001 as amended and in force by the law 4496/2017. The management board of EOAN comprises of representatives from the public and private sector, elected representatives of local authorities and representatives of professional associations and environmental organizations.
HRA participates as associated beneficiary, in LIFE RE-WEEE project (LIFE14 ENV/GR/000858 – Development and Demonstration of Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Prevention and Reuse Paradigms) and in LIFE-Debag project (LIFE14 GIE/GR/001127 – Integrated information and awareness campaign for the reduction of plastic bags in the marine environment). In addition, the Hellenic Recycling Agency actively participates in national and international conferences and meetings in order to fulfill its strategic aims.
