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Illegal dumpsites create health and fire hazard on Salamina island
🇬🇷 Greece /Health & Science

Illegal dumpsites create health and fire hazard on Salamina island

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Residents of Salamina, Greece, are concerned about tons of garbage and green waste accumulating in illegal dumpsites, posing a fire hazard.
  • A local resident reported that the piles of debris have doubled, with new waste continuously being deposited, primarily from property cleanups.
  • The mayor acknowledged the problem, attributing it to increased population during summer and residents avoiding disposal costs, while also noting the challenges of managing waste from over 10,000 undeveloped plots.

Salamina, Greece, faces a growing environmental and health crisis as tons of garbage and green waste accumulate in illegal dumpsites, creating a significant fire risk. Residents are voicing alarm over the escalating situation, with one local describing the piles of debris as having doubled due to continuous dumping, particularly of waste from property cleanups.

Stella Organopoulou, a resident of the Kynosos area, expressed her distress, stating, "We are in a terrible state. A fire can break out at any moment." She highlighted her personal concern for safety as a person with a disability, fearing difficulties in evacuation should a fire occur. Organopoulou also mentioned that her appeals to the Municipality have gone unanswered.

The accumulated waste includes bulky items and green debris. In one alarming incident, a dumpster caught fire, requiring intervention from residents to extinguish it. The situation is exacerbated by the sheer volume of waste, with the mayor estimating that over 15,000 tons of green waste are collected from more than 10,000 undeveloped plots on the island.

We are in a terrible state. A fire can break out at any moment.

— Stella OrganopoulouA resident of Salamina describing the dangerous accumulation of waste.

Salamina's Mayor, Giorgos Panagopoulos, acknowledged the problem, attributing its intensification during summer months to a significant increase in the island's population, which he estimates reaches around 300,000. He stressed that property owners are legally responsible for clearing their land and properly disposing of the waste. However, he noted that many choose to leave materials in public areas to avoid transportation costs, a practice also seen with construction debris.

The Municipality has sought and received temporary assistance with cleaning vehicles from other municipalities, including Athens and Korydallos. Despite these efforts, the mayor emphasized the immense challenge posed by the island's size and the need to protect its extensive forest areas, stating, "Salamina has large forests. Our primary concern is their protection, but without responsible citizens, the task becomes even more difficult."

Salamina has large forests. Our primary concern is their protection, but without responsible citizens, the task becomes even more difficult.

— Giorgos PanagopoulosMayor of Salamina, highlighting the challenges of waste management and citizen responsibility.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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