Governors oppose ministry role in waste management

The Union of Regional Authorities asked the government Tuesday to make further changes to a provision on waste management in the multi-bill due to be voted through Parliament Wednesday.

The local officials are not satisfied that the coalition has taken on board their initial complaint that the provision gives the central government too great a role in deciding regional authorities’ waste management plans. The government proposes that any plan needs the approval of the general secretaries at the Interior and Environment ministries, as well as the issuing of a joint ministerial decision.

Regional governors argued in their statement that this turns waste management into a “political decision” rather than one dependent on local needs.

Attica Governor Rena Dourou has expressed her opposition to the government’s plan despite being a leading member of SYRIZA.