The LIFE-IP CEI-Greece project supports the implementation of the main national policy tools for the transition to a circular economy in the country, with central axes the promotion of waste hierarchy, the treatment of waste as a resource and the shift from linear to a circular production and consumption model:

The waste sector is a key pillar for the implementation of circular economy, included in the EU Action Plan for Circular Economy, revised in March 2020 COM(2020)98 , which under the slogan “Less waste, more value” focuses on disconnecting waste generation from economic development, linking product policies and waste policies to the prevention of waste generation, as well as developing the market for secondary raw materials in order to achieve circular use of materials and resource efficiency. In particular, the implementation of the national waste policy is applied through the NWMP, which was ratified by a Cabinet Act on August 31, 2020 (A’ 185) and the NWPP, which was approved by the Cabinet in June 2021 and ratified on April 24 2022 (A’ 83). These plans set out the strategic priorities and targets until 2030 for the implementation of the new EU waste legislation based on circular economy principles.

Our country’s national development strategy recognizes that the transformation of the economy from a linear to a circular model presents significant development potential that supports entrepreneurship, investment and employment, while adding a sustainable dimension to growth. This policy is mainly implemented through the National Strategy for Circular Economy adopted in December 2018, which is implemented through its operational action plan 2018-2019, which was revised in November 2021 and ratified on 29 April 2022 (A’ 84). The National Action Plan for Circular Economy (NAPCE) is a road map with a four-year duration (2021-2025) and includes 71 actions that will allow the country’s economy to become sustainable and at the same time competitive. This plan is fully aligned with the directions of the revised EU circular economy action plan and it is compatible with national waste planning and related development policies at sectoral and national level, taking into account all relevant waste legislation launched in 2020-2021. The aim of these actions is to contribute substantially to, the transformation towards a circular economy, the development of new business opportunities and the strengthening of existing entrepreneurship, the creation of new markets for certain products and the establishment of rules, incentives and funding tools in order to develop the economy towards a new and more sustainable direction.

The General Secretariat of the Natural Environment & Waters of the Ministry of Environment & Energy (MEEN) is the coordinating authority on circular economy issues. MEEN presides over the Inter-ministerial Committee and the National Council – Advisory Committee of Productive and Social Agencies for Circular Economy, which are expected to be permanent bodies and will contribute to the formulation of policies for circular economy.

LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK

– Framework law on waste (L. 4819/2021 – Official Gazette A’ 129)
– Law on single-use plastics (L. 4736/2020 – Official Gazette A’ 200)
– Joint Ministerial Decision on landfill (MEEN ΔΔΑ/90439/1846/2021)

Other national plans of high relevance to the implementation of circular economy

Contribution of the project

With its pilot projects, demonstration actions, training and awareness-raising events, as well as the dissemination of results, the LIFE-IP CEI-Greece project supports in practice the implementation of the national circular economy policy. The directions and objectives of the national plans closely related to the project (NWMP, NWPP and NAPCE) mainly concern the promotion of an infrastructure network based on waste hierarchy, monitoring optimization, the application of incentives and other means, as well as the change of consumer behavior with the ultimate goal of promoting hierarchically superior management solutions that support the implementation of circular economy. The contribution of the project to the implementation of the highly relevant priority strategies of the national plans follows:

  • Promoting waste hierarchy in practice – moving towards less waste with more value:
    • Pilot project – Creation of reinforced green points (Green Centres & Centres for Creative Use of Materials) in the 2 major urban centers of the country to support reuse and preparation for reuse/recycling
    • Guide for the establishment of GCs and CCUMs
    • Pilot project – Circular Economy application at local level, in 4 selected islands and 1 mountain area
    • Pilot project – Full-scale implementation of separate collection and integrated management of household hazardous waste (HWW) in 1 district and 1 urban municipality
    • Guide for the Separate Collection of HHW
  • Supporting food waste prevention:
    • Implementation of the national action plans with the preparation of a special prevention program
    • Designing the measurement, recording and evaluation of food waste production
    • Creating a platform for the redistribution of food waste
    • Food waste prevention demonstration actions
    • Establishment of a food waste prevention forum
  • Development of a recovery network of biodegradable agro-livestock waste – recovery of intensive livestock waste – promotion of bioeconomy:
    • Good practice guide and e-tool for agri-food waste recovery
    • Promotion of voluntary alliances at local/regional level for agri-food waste management
  • Sustainable production by supporting industrial symbiosis and increasing the use of secondary materials:
    • Adoption / development of standards for secondary materials
  • Utilization of economic tools to promote waste hierarchy:
    • Pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) pilot at full-scale in an urban municipality
    • PAYT Guide for municipalities
  • Improving waste data and developing indicators to monitor circular economy implementation progress:
    • Improving the knowledge base for the country’s waste recovery infrastructure
    • Development of national indicators and operation of a National Observatory for Circular Economy
  • Application of financial tools for the transition to a circular economy – EU application taxonomy for investments in the circular economy
    • Development of circular economy specifications for financial instruments and integration of indicators and specifications for waste management
    • Mobilization of complementary funds (mandatory LIFE-IP action)
  • Raising awareness and activating the participation of stakeholders and the general public – promoting sustainable consumption and treating waste as a resource
    • Stakeholder engagement and capacity building actions (workshops, distance learning)
    • Development of an electronic National Repository for Circular Economy
    • Actions to raise awareness and disseminate project results (regional and local events, informative and audiovisual material)
    • Experiential park for recycling, repair and reuse in an urban municipality

Circular Economy Implementation in Greece
LIFE-IP CEI-Greece - LIFE18 IPE/GR/000013

Funding

The project is co-funded by:

Life Programme of the European Union

Green Fund