dumping of rubble

Dumping of building rubble and other rubbish on wetlands, thus informally reclaiming them, is increasingly observable with the development of tourism in Lesbos. A current serious case concerns Parakoila Marsh with its scarce breeding birds and aquatic insects: the photo on the left shows reclamation at Parakoila Marsh by dumping of building rubble and other rubbish.A similar process is happening at Dipi Larssos at the head of the Gulf of Gera, as shown in the photo on the right.

What is to be done?

The problem of uncontrolled dumping on wetlands and other areas that are deemed to be of low agricultural value is widespread across Europe. The solutions to it involve several elements:

	the provision of proper dumping sites located in places that are not environmentally sensitive in terms of ecology or landscape
	licensing of individuals and companies responsible for the creation of building rubble
	enforcement of regulations against unauthorised or unlicensed dumping
	publicity and education on the importance of wetlands and of a clean environment

Under EU regulations the authorities have to set and achieve targets on the recycling of building waste. Rubble can be used for authorised landfill, road building and other development. It can also help to reduce the demand for the quarrying of new materials.

Under a properly managed recycling scheme building rubble can be a valuable resource instead of a nuisance to those who create it, an eyesore to everyone else and a threat to the environment.