Law No. 5151 of 2024. Arrangements for the modernization of waste management, the improvement of the energy saving framework, the development of energy projects and the addressing of urban planning issues.

This Law, consisting of 93 articles, provides for modernising the waste management framework, improving the framework for energy saving and development of energy projects and resolving spatial and urban planning issues. Particularly, the Law focuses on: increasing the recycling rate through an integrated plan and the active participation of the Ministry of Environment and Energy; creating strong waste management bodies; simplifying waste management procedures and resolving problems regarding the management of municipal waste; addressing problems with licensing and installation of renewable energy sources projects; promoting the installation of renewable energy sources technologies; increasing the installation of electricity storage stations, in order to limit the discharges of green energy and reduce the cost of electricity during the evening hours when renewable energy sources production from photovoltaic stations is limited; implementing the articles of Directive (EU) 2023/2413 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the promotion of energy from renewable sources. Further goals of this Law are to assist population affected by natural disasters, to rationalise the use of real estate and tourism assets, facilitate the operations of the Central Council for Urban Planning Issues and Disputes, and suspend building permits in specific areas.
The Law defines the following objectives: increasing solid waste management; updating the waste management framework; promoting recycling techniques; improving the development framework for renewable energy sources and high-efficiency cogeneration of electricity and heat projects; establishing an energy upgrade programme for public buildings; promoting the energy storage framework; strengthening modernisation of energy market actors; addressing urban and spatial planning issues. The Law covers the following matters: solid waste management in the North Aegean Region, in the Region of Crete, in Western Greece Region, in the Region of Thessaly; contributions of first-degree local government organisations in favour of solid waste management bodies and collection procedures; implementation of actions of Ministry of Environment and Energy to enhance recycling techniques; preparation of National and Regional Waste Management Planning; adoption of measures for waste prevention; registration of data on food waste and food surpluses; initiatives and programmes to promote the installation of renewable energy projects; promoting the conversion of conventional units into electricity storage systems; supplementary provisions for authorising energy programmes; financing the implementation of infrastructure projects for the reconstruction and upgrading of the fire-stricken areas in defined parts of the country; measures concerning public water supply and sewerage enterprises within the framework of recovery and resilience fund (RRF).