Greece faces fresh fines over landfill

Only two weeks after it slapped Greece with a 10-million-euro fine for failing to close down dozens of illegal landfills in line with EU law, the European Court of Justice on Thursday ruled that a waste treatment facility in Kiato, west of Athens, does not adhere to EU waste legislation.

According to the ruling, the landfill – which serves the Peloponnesian regions of Corinthia and Argolida as well as three large municipalities in the Arcadia region – is operating without the proper permit, while posing a risk to public health and the environment.

The decision means that Greece is likely to face fresh penalties.

The Strasbourg-based court rebuffed the claim put forward by Greek authorities that the state cannot be held responsible over failure by local governments to cooperate on matters of waste management.