Greece is opening a new chapter in its waste management strategy with the development of six waste-to-energy (WtE) facilities, according to the final draft of a strategic plan presented during a closed-door event at the Ministry of Environment and Energy on Wednesday, April 29.

The proposed units will collectively process 1.186 million tons of waste annually, generating around 1,030 GWh of electricity — roughly 2% of the country’s total power consumption. Notably, 57.5% of this energy will be classified as renewable, thanks to the biodegradable content of the waste used.

Prepared by the Energoplan and EPTA consortium on behalf of the Ministry, the plan identifies key locations for the WtE facilities, strategically placed to serve regional waste streams:

• Rodopi (62,000 tons/year): Serving Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, with the town of Xanthi considered the most likely site.

• Kozani (288,000 tons/year): Covering Central and Western Macedonia, Epirus, Thessaly, and parts of the Ionian Islands, including Corfu. Public utility PPC has expressed interest in hosting the facility in its Ptolemaida grounds.

• Peloponnese Region (154,000 tons/year): To serve Western Greece, the Peloponnese, and parts of the Ionian Islands (Kefalonia, Lefkas, Zakynthos), with potential locations in Arcadia, Ilia, or Achaea. Former lignite mining sites are being considered.

• Boeotia (186,000 tons/year): Intended for Central Greece and parts of Attica. The company Metlen has proposed hosting the plant within its premises in the region.

• Attica (356,000 tons/year): Designed to serve the wider Attica region, the Northern Aegean Islands, and some Southern Aegean islands.

• Heraklion, Crete (140,000 tons/year): To manage waste from Crete and islands like Santorini, Rhodes, and Karpathos.

All facilities will process high-calorific waste (over 10 MJ/kg), suitable for energy production. By 2030, the volume of secondary fuel (SRF) and residual waste is projected to reach 1.45 million tons per year.

A government-commissioned study warns that without new waste-to-energy (WtE) plants, Greece risks breaching EU landfill targets. If energy-intensive industries only partially absorb secondary fuel, landfill rates could hit 22.66% by 2030 — more than twice the EU’s 10% goal — and rise to 29.15% by 2050.

Full industrial use would help, but only WtE integration into the national system could slash landfill to 8.77% by 2030 and eliminate it entirely by 2040, aligning with circular economy goals.