Law no. 4819/2021 on Integrated framework for waste management.

This Law, consisting of 173 articles and divided into 11 Parts, concerns the incorporation into Greek legislation of the European Directives 2018/851 on waste management and 2018/852, amending the Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste and provides for an unified framework defining tasks and responsibilities of the Hellenic Recycling Organisation, defines provisions for plastic products and the protection of the natural environment, the human health, the definition of spatial and urban planning, matters related to energy and emergency issues, with the aim of reducing the negative consequences of waste production and improving economic efficiency and the transition to a circular economy. Part II concerns the incorporation of the European Directives 2018/851 and excludes from the application of the Law: gaseous waste released into the atmosphere, contaminated soils that have not yet been excavated, uncontaminated earth and other natural materials that have been excavated during construction activities, radioactive waste, declassified explosives, excrement, sewage, animal by-products, carcasses of animals, which die outside slaughterhouses, waste resulting from research, extraction, treatment and storage of mineral resources, substances intended for use as feed raw materials. The following relevant terms are defined: waste; hazardous waste; municipal waste, including household waste; construction and demolition waste; waste oils; biological waste; food waste; waste producer; owner of waste; waste management; collection; separate collection; prevention; reuse; processing; recovery; recycling; backfilling; regeneration of waste oils; disposal; alternative management system; Hellenic Recycling Organisation.
Chapter III concerns measures for prevention and preparation for reuse, recycling and disposal of waste and includes the following matters: promotion of sustainable production and consumption; creation of centres for creative reuse of materials; use of fertilisers for food production; food waste; tax incentives for encouraging prevention and reuse; waste recovery from intensive poultry or pig farms; recycling and separate collection. Chapter IV concerns waste management, including: protection of human health and the environment; costs and “pay as you go” system; responsibility for waste management; hazardous waste control; labelling of hazardous waste; waste oils; risk prevention; biological waste; Environmental Management Systems in waste management facilities. Chapter V concerns issuance of permits, licenses and registrations. Chapter VI concerns plans and programs, including national, regional and local waste management plans; waste prevention programme; public participation. Chapter VII concerns inspection, control and registers. Chapter VIII concerns specific measures to improve waste management, including: creation of a network of waste energy utilisation units; special arrangements for soil improvers/fertilisers; Chapters IX concerns sanctions, transitional and repealing provisions.
Part III concerns the incorporation of the European Directives 2018/852 and defines the following terms: packaging; reusable packaging; packaging waste; plastic material. Matters covered by this Part concerns: management measures for plastic carrier bags and plastic bottles; reuse, recovery and recycling; information system and data submission; administrative sanctions. Part IV concerns provisions for the organisation and powers of the Hellenic Recycling Organisation. Part V concerns measures to reduce impacts from single-use plastic products. Part VI concerns provisions on the protection of natural environment, including: electricity transmission and distribution network; establishment and powers of natural environment and climate change organisation. Part VII concerns towns planning, including: expropriations; urban planning. Part VIII concerns energy settings, including: determining the allocation of revenues from auctions of gas emissions rights for the years 2021-2030; licenses for exploration, research and exploitation of hydrocarbons. Part IX concerns provisions for forest management, including: ownership status of forests; protection of burnt areas; interventions in parks; division of mixed forest and non-forest land; packaging and processing of agricultural and livestock products; desalination unit and other water treatment systems. Part X concerns licensing of constructions and facilities within the onshore port zone. Part XI concerns validity of the Law.