UNESCO GLOBAL GEOPARK, ZAGORI, EPIRUS; Northern Pindus National Park: Rubbish-Dumping and Fly-Tipping; H περιοχή του Γεωπάρκου Βίκου- Αώου

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From I Ellada Pou Les, Michaelis Ganas

As we turn the corner to take in the beautiful panoramic view of the mountains (Mount Timfi), we are faced with the sight of the old quarry (νταμάρι), a convenient waste-dumping spot, which is becoming more ghastly every day.

Have the Corfiots started taking their rubbish across to the mainland and dumping it in the National Park, in the centre of the Zagori region?

We called in to mention it at the nearby Northern Pindus National Park Information Centre. It seems that neither the park wardens nor the management agency can do anything.

"The people have nowhere else to dump their rubbish. It's the mindset (νοοτροπία) of the people".

The Mayor later explained that the Municipality doesn't have a vehicle or a suitable alternative space for the large items of dumped rubbish that don't fit into the skip provided (the private contractor is only responsible for clearing the rubbish inside the skip, not for everything else dumped haphazardly beside and around it).

Yet Ioannina has won prizes for its state-of the-art waste management system.


Βραβεύτηκε η Περιφέρεια Ηπείρου για το εργοστάσιο των σκουπιδιών, Enimerosi


Στο βιβλίο Γκίνες με νέο ρεκόρ ανακύκλωσης τα Γιάννενα, Enimerosi


Ολοκληρώνονται οι σταθμοί μεταφόρτωσης απορριμμάτων, Enimerosi

Surely it's not a matter of (eco-) mindset, education or νοοτροπία, or of the simple inconvenience of collecting it and recycling whatever is recyclable?

The local people treasure the environment; yet it must be a few irresponsible locals who are tipping their old junk at this beauty spot (and at other spots less open to the critical view of passers-by).

Over to the Mayor!

Or perhaps to the Park's official representatives?

Panayotis Paschos (Geologist), email: paschos(at)igme.gr, tel.: +30 2682361912

Haritakis Papaioannou (Biologist), email: h.papaioannou(at)epirussa.gr, tel.: +30 2651036686

Georgia Kitsaki (Historian - Archaeologist), email: gkitsaki(at)epirussa.gr, tel.: +30 2651036686


From Northern Pindos National Park Good Visitors' Handbook:

More about the Corfu 'dead-end'

"All present at the meeting supported the fair and feasible demand for the immediate temporary and safe removal of waste from the island to be processed at a legal facility outside Corfu".