Aigio coastline threatened by mounting trash problem

The incoming mayor of the seaside Peloponnesian town of Aigio is appealing to Athens for funds to tackle a mounting trash problem, amid fears that some 5,000 tons of garbage dumped on the town's outskirts, including at popular beaches such as Selianitika and Akoli, poses a serious public health risk.

Aigio's landfill was closed down as a public health and environmental hazard in February by court order following a complaint by residents in the area, resulting in widespread illegal dumping.

"It was over-congested and badly operated, prompting the residents in the area to take quite justified judicial action to have it shut down. The result, though, is that we have a terrible situation on our hands," says Dimitris Kalogeropoulos.

He added that the cost of transporting the town's trash to other landfills is prohibitive as a long-term solution at 150 euros per ton....