The deals and the NOs of Keratea

A first step toward a dialogue away from teargas, Molotovs and roadblocks was taken yesterday, Thursday, between the government and Keratea authorities, while the day had its own special meaning for the demonized project of eastern Attica.

According to representatives from Keratea, Thursday also marked the final EU warning about striking the landfill off European Union funding due to the long delays in its realization.

Headed by Kostas Levantis, mayor of Lavreotiki, the two-hour meeting at the minister’s office revealed the points of agreement and friction between the two sides, which led to yet another meeting this Wednesday.

According to information, one agreement point is the technology, which the minister left to the local community to decide upon, excluding though the combustion of mixed waste. Consensus was also expressed on the issue of waste plant management by the municipality.
 
Just the garbage from Lavreotiki and Saronikos

According to Keratea committee members, different views that present a point of friction were expressed on the final volume of waste that will enter the plant, as well as the future of the sanitary landfill, which is linked to the type of technology that will be used.

Birbili stressed that there will definitely be a sanitary landfill and did not rule out a location change - as protothema.gr reported yesterday - as long as there is a clear decision, a clear timetable and a feasible alternative solution.

The local authorities seem to stick to their position against the construction of the sanitary landfill in Omvriokastro, which is the area provided for by the Regional Planning, and ask that it be moved to a different location. They also insist that they should only deal with the waste of Lavrotiki and Saronikos.

These friction points will probably lead to a new round of meetings, the outcomes of which cannot be predicted. “The dialogue has begun but this doesn’t mean that the problem with the sanitary landfill is solved”, says Stavros Iatrou, the former mayor of Keratea, who was among those that visited the Environment minister.

According to the people who attended the meeting, the minister’s statement that she is authorized by the PM to talk directly with them, caused quite a sensation since it sends a clear message to Interior minister Giannis Ragousis, who has the general command on waste management issues. However, Birbili’s partners gave another explanation and stressed that the solution to Keratea will be a governmental one after a joint discussion with all the relevant ministries.