Athens Mayor Haris Doukas describes cleanliness as a “constant battle” and presents the new steps being taken by the Municipality of Athens for waste collection, the washing of public spaces and the faster response to problems in the city centre and neighbourhoods.
Speaking to Kathimerini and journalist Tania Georgiopoulou, he noted that citizens’ requests on the Novoville digital platform regarding cleanliness are down by 30% compared with last year, while stressing that Athens remains a city with very significant needs, especially during the months of intense tourist activity.
The new operational plan
According to Mr Doukas, in central Athens, waste collection takes place six times a day for both the blue and green bins, that is, every four hours, while in some difficult areas collection reaches eight times a day. Across the city, he said, 160 waste collection programmes are being implemented.
At the same time, the Municipality of Athens has received 20 small waste collection vehicles, which will operate as a rapid response team. As he explained, these vehicles will be used for overflowing bins, public health incidents and locations where large waste collection trucks cannot move easily, such as narrow streets in neighbourhoods.
The Mayor also said that the municipality is implementing a pilot communication system between services, so that problems can be recorded and addressed more quickly. When an incident is classified as “red”, such as an overflowing bin or a dead animal, the goal is for it to be cleaned up within two hours.
GPS, sensors and dynamic routes
Mr Doukas also noted that 460 waste collection vehicles are now equipped with GPS, allowing the municipality to monitor routes and adjust the planning where necessary. The installation of 1,000 bin fill-level sensors is also underway, with the aim of providing an overall picture of the situation across the city.
He stressed that the goal is for the programmes to become more dynamic and to be adjusted based on the data. As he said, needs differ from one neighbourhood to another, making planning more demanding.
Washing squares and public spaces
Responding to the issue of washing pavements, the Mayor said that the Municipality of Athens has doubled the number of washing operations and is giving priority to squares, pedestrian streets and areas with high visitor numbers. He also said that Syntagma Square, Kotzia Square, Omonia, Victoria Square and Monastiraki are washed daily.
At the same time, he noted that interventions are also carried out outside the regular schedule when supervisors identify areas with a health risk or intense nuisance caused by organic materials, particularly during the summer months.
Haris Doukas acknowledged that the cleaning service has a specific capacity and cannot cover everything with the available staff. “I wish that instead of 300 people, we could hire 1,000,” he said characteristically, also calling on citizens to contribute through more careful everyday behaviour in public spaces.
Frequently asked questions
What is changing in waste collection in Athens?
The Municipality of Athens is implementing 160 waste collection programmes, has increased cleaning operations and is using 20 small waste collection vehicles for faster interventions in difficult areas.
Which areas are washed more frequently?
According to the Mayor, Syntagma Square, Kotzia Square, Omonia, Victoria Square and Monastiraki are washed daily, while priority is also given to areas with high visitor numbers or health risks.
