By Lina Giannarou for Ekathimerini
A resident of Thessaloniki was fined €150 for throwing a cardboard box into a recycling bin without flattening it, under cleanliness rules enforced by municipalities across Greece.
The regulation in the Municipality of Thessaloniki, in effect since 2024, states that “minimizing volume by compression or other appropriate means” of packaging waste is mandatory, with a €150 penalty for violations.
For commercial and food-service businesses, the fine is €150 per item and doubles for repeat offenses.
Authorities identified the box’s owner through a voucher label attached to it.
In Athens, no specific fine exists for uncompressed waste, but broader penalties apply for improper disposal. Deputy Mayor Olga Dourou said inspections have intensified. In 2025, 3,454 fines totaling €659,120 were imposed.
Limited staffing hampers enforcement elsewhere. In Filothei-Psychiko, which has two municipal police officers, a new regulation will allow sanitation workers to report violations for confirmation.
