The South Aegean Solid Waste Management Organization (FODSA) participated in the 9th Conference of the Hellenic Society for Solid Waste Management (EEDSA), titled “Circular Cities 2030 – From Planning to Implementation,” the South Aegean Solid Waste Management Agency (FODSA) participated. The conference took place on October 1 and 2, 2026, in the historic buildings of the National Technical University of Athens on Patission Street in Athens, focusing on the challenges, solutions, and partnerships needed to accelerate the transition to a circular economy.
The South Aegean Regional Waste Management Agency (FODSA) was represented by its General Director, Dr. Christos Gambroudis, who participated in the Roundtable Discussion of FODSA Presidents and General Directors. At the outset, Mr. Gambroudis conveyed the greetings of the President of the South Aegean Regional Waste Management Agency, Regional Governor of the Region of South Aegean and President of the Union of Greek Regions, George Hatzimarkos.
During the discussion, it was emphasized that the modernization of the Regional Solid Waste Management Agencies (FODSA) cannot be limited to administrative changes but must be accompanied by stronger staffing, modern tools, and genuine operational capacity. As noted, the FODSA are not a new institution, as they have been involved in waste management in Greece for more than two decades; however, their role has changed radically in recent years. Today, the country’s 14 FODSA organizations serve as key operational entities for the transition to a circular economy.
In the case of the South Aegean, the unified regional FODSA was established in 2020, taking on the task of organizing waste management in a particularly complex island environment. The agency’s efforts are already yielding positive results, as projects that had been pending for years are now on track for implementation, a unified plan for the islands has been developed, and significant investments and new infrastructure are moving forward.
During the conference, particular emphasis was placed on the following points:
- Cooperation between Municipalities and FODSA: The goal is to clarify roles and responsibilities, improve coordination, and ensure more effective implementation of environmental policies.
- Citizen Participation: The success of separate collection systems depends on providing citizens with simple, consistent, and meaningful information to build their trust and encourage their active participation.
- Insularity: The unique conditions of the islands—such as pronounced seasonality, maritime transportation, geographical dispersion, and differing needs by region, made it necessary to establish the unified South Aegean Regional Waste Management Authority (FODSA) to transition from piecemeal interventions to organized, long-term planning.
