Association of Local Authorities Introduction - Historical Data

The Association of Local Authorities (O.T.A.) of Greater Thessaloniki, as a true organization of local authority established in 1970, throughout its previous experience which was obtained throughout the 26 years of its function, continues in a sense of responsiblity its great effort for the exploitation and development of renewable energy sources of Greater Thessaloniki area aiming only to the improvement of citizens life quality and the protection of the environment through the function of sanitrary landfilling under the appropriate conditions and terms of the European Union. The increase of volume of waste is definitely a social problem and has to be confronted as a social problem. Consequently the waste management is a case concerning us all. The initiatives taken until recently by the new administration board of our Association have in view to confirn the dynamic contribution of local authorities organizations to the solution of vital environmental problems in modern societies with sensitivity, realism and also essential interest. A very important event for our Association was the visit of a European Union delegation for first time on July the 30th in 1995, which was shown around to the areas and was fully informed by the administration and the scientific staff of our Association about all the programs that are in the phase of their development, but also our immediate future plans. The delegation visited Sanitary Landfill site of East Sector (Tagarades). The also visited the old disposal areas that now are under restoration (Thermi and Derveni) and future sites in Thessaloniki prefecture. Of great importance is the undersignment of a Certificate of Cooperation with the Association of Municipalities and Communities of Belgium (I.O.E.L.U.X) which took place in Thessaloniki on the 22th of January 1997. The signing of the agreement The aggrement was signed between the President of the Association of Greater Thessaloniki mr. B. Barbounakis and mr. Bernard Antoine General Director of the Association I.D.E.L.U.X. The two Associations will work in accordance towards the exchange of experience and knowhow concerning the management of waste-recycling and Enviromental European Union Programmes and projects. The new administration commitee of O.T.A. of Greater Thessaloniki area with responsibility, planning and appropriate short-as well as long term planning, is determined to proceed to the confrontation of the huge problems related to the waste management of the Greater Thessaloniki area; aiming to the improvement of its citizens' life quality and of course the application of substructure and development works with respect to the future. The active support of the programs that follow in details, contributes to make the Association O.T.A. a vital factor in the effort of handing over a better city to the following generations. Today the Association consists of 23 municipalities and communities of the Greater Thessaloniki area. It also has a complete machinery equipment at the sanitary landfilling sites. Employs well-known scientist as well as an experianced staff of workers and technicians. With in the framework of principles of the Association and aiming to the improvement of the environment concerning the waste management the Association is at the present time active, mainly in Landfill Sites, Recycling Programmes, Communication & Promotion, Research & Education, Social Activities, and Waste Management Planning All the above mentioned sections are placed in the strategy that our Association has been carrying out for many years, aiming to: The rational management of the solid waste The development of alternative energy forms The reduction of raw material consumption The goals named above are materialired through the construction and function of new waste disposal sites, the creation of waste transfer station, the increase of collected quantities of recyclable material, the planning and accomplishment of material recycling system by mechanical and labour means (sorting) the planning of hospital, toxic and other kinds of dangerous waste management and in general at full extent of the solid waste management.

Last update February 1, 1997