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Greece has announced a campaign against plastic pollution and promised to end the use of single-use plastics by June 2020, AFP reported.
"39 tonnes of plastic waste end up in the sea in Greece (every day) and a lot of it turns into fish food," Environment Minister Kostis Hatzidakis said at a press conference.
"The fight against plastic pollution is a government priority."
Greece has a coastline stretching over 130,000 kilometres, and plastics in the oceans affect its wild marine life along the entire food chain.
The minister said that the European Commission directive to ban single-use plastics by July 2021 will be quickly incorporated into Greek law. Hatzidakis said he hopes to phase out the use of single-use plastics by 2020, a year before the EU ban enters into force.
Hatzidakis called for an alliance between the state, the private sector, non-governmental organizations and citizens.
He also announced a plan for collaboration with the charitable foundation A.C. Laskaridis, a private environmental group. Last year, the foundation worked with the Greek island of Sikinos in the Aegean to ban plastic straws that are widely used in the summer.
According to the group, Greece imports about 700,000 tonnes of raw plastics each year and discards 40,000 tonnes of plastics, 70% of which are ashore. In the summer, the percentage reaches 76, of which only 8% are recycled.
Greece is lagging behind its EU neighbours in recycling waste, especially plastics. The country was late to adopt a plastic bag fee in stores in January 2018.
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A nationwide strike in Greece has brought the country's transport networks to a standstill, affecting railways, ferries, buses, taxis, and more
In a bold move to amplify their demands for higher wages and better working conditions, journalists across Greece have embarked on a 24-hour strike, effectively halting news broadcasts for the duration
In a demonstration of solidarity and protest against the government's economic policies, media workers across Greece have initiated a 24-hour strike, aligning themselves with the call for protests issued by labor unions
In a bid to uphold the principle of free access to beaches, Greek authorities have implemented strict regulations, warning of hefty fines for violators.
With the aim to bolster renewable energy infrastructure, the European Commission has greenlit funding of 1 billion euros for two key projects in Greece
As Easter approaches, Greeks are facing the highest lamb prices in recent years, prompting many to seek alternatives across the border in Bulgaria
Overnight, rainfall across the country will temporarily cease, with some areas experiencing breaks in the clouds
Overnight, the precipitation zone will gradually shift eastward, with significant amounts expected in parts of Central and Eastern Bulgaria, accompanied by thunderstorms
Romanian media outlets have reported that storm "Renata" has made landfall in Romania, bringing with it strong winds and heavy precipitation. Following two weeks of record high temperatures, the mercury has plummeted by 15-20 degrees Celsius, as reported
The concluded winter presented unusually elevated temperatures and a 'milder' heating season for thousands of Bulgarians
For the past four years, residents of the picturesque village of Brestovitsa in Plovdiv have been grappling with a troubling issue: muddy water contaminated with manganese flowing from their taps
Overnight, expect considerable cloud cover, particularly in western regions, accompanied by showers. In Northwestern Bulgaria, expect a west-northwest wind bringing colder air
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