Recycling in Greece

Highly affected industries and sectors:

• Waste management and recycling companies
• Packaging industry
• Construction and demolition companies
• Electronics and electrical equipment industry
• Automotive and metal industry

Challenges and opportunities for businesses:

• Challenges:
  • Complexity and diversity of regulatory requirements
  • Need to invest in infrastructure and technology
  • Ensuring compliance with recycling quotas and take-back obligations
  • Responsible handling of hazardous substances and materials
  • Efficient organization of collection, sorting and recycling of waste
• Opportunities:
  • Increasing resource efficiency and cost savings
  • Building a sustainable image and strengthening market position
  • Opening up new business opportunities in the field of green growth
  • Promote innovation and development of new recycling technologies
  • Contributing to environmental protection and the circular economy

Regulatory and Compliance in Greece

To regulate the recycling sector in Greece, national and international laws, regulations and standards exist. These include guidelines on waste management, pollution prevention and the promotion of recycling. Companies must deal with these regulations and ensure that they conduct their activities in accordance with the legal framework. Regulation in Greece has a direct impact on companies in the recycling sector, as it affects their business models, processes and investments.

What are the laws and regulations in Greece regarding recycling and regulation:

• Law No. 4042/2012 on waste management and recycling.
• Regulation No. 2160/2013 on the management of packaging waste
• Law No. 3852/2010 on waste management
• Decree No. 117/2018 on the implementation of Directive 2012/19/EU on waste electrical and electronic equipment
• Law No. 4419/2016 on the management of hazardous waste

What challenges does this create for companies in Greece or companies that produce in Greece:

• Complexity of legal requirements and different specifications for different types of waste.
• Need to shift from linear to circular production and economic models
• Establishment of take-back and recovery infrastructures to meet recycling quotas
• Ensuring the correct collection, sorting and recycling of waste
• Monitoring and documenting waste flows along the entire value chain
• Ensuring compliance with environmental and health standards when handling hazardous waste

Compliance with recycling and regulatory laws and regulations in Greece presents companies with diverse challenges. The complexity of the legal requirements demands a deep understanding and comprehensive implementation of the specifications. Companies must adapt their production processes, logistics and disposal routes accordingly to meet recycling quotas and ensure take-back obligations. They must also ensure that hazardous waste is managed and disposed of in accordance with the requirements in order to minimize environmental and health risks.

Regulatory requirements in recycling

Compliance with recycling rates and take-back obligations is a key regulatory requirement in Greece. Companies must achieve certain waste recycling targets to increase recycling rates and reduce landfilling. In addition, companies in the recycling sector must ensure responsible handling of hazardous substances and materials. This includes the proper storage, safe transport and environmentally sound disposal of hazardous waste to minimize potential risks to the environment and human health.

Regulatory and compliance issues in the EU and third countries

Regulatory and compliance issues in recycling extend not only to national requirements, but also to the EU level and trade with third countries. Companies exporting recycled materials must adhere to key regulations and standards to ensure the export process runs smoothly and minimize environmental impacts. Here are some relevant aspects:

Important regulations and standards for the export of recycled materials:

• EU Waste Shipment Regulation (Regulation (EC) No. 1013/2006): This regulation sets out the requirements for the transboundary transport of waste, including recycled materials. Among other things, it regulates the licensing procedures, documentation and monitoring of the transport.
• Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal: The Convention contains provisions on the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes, including certain recycled materials. It establishes requirements for the consent of the countries involved, the procedures for transport, and the monitoring of waste streams.

Cooperation with external partners, such as authorities, industry associations and certification bodies:

• Authorities: Companies exporting recycled materials must work closely with the relevant authorities to obtain the necessary permits and documentation. This includes complying with export country requirements and monitoring the regulatory framework.
• Industry associations: industry associations can help companies interpret and implement regulations. They often provide training, information and guidance to help companies meet their compliance requirements.
• Certification bodies: Companies can obtain certifications that validate their compliance with certain standards and regulations. This can help build customer and business partner confidence in the quality and sustainability of exported recycled materials.

Regulatory and compliance in the export of recycled materials is of great importance to ensure sustainable and responsible trade. Working with external partners enables companies to streamline their processes, minimize legal risks and meet the requirements of international markets. By using solutions like Regulai's software, companies can make their export processes more efficient, simplify documentation, and better comply with regulatory requirements. This helps companies leverage recycling as an opportunity for economic growth and environmental sustainability.