Greeting of The President of the E.S.D.A.K Zacharias Kalogerakis

ESDAK was formed expressing the collective will of the Local Government for the effective management of solid waste with social acceptance and the aim of upgrading the quality of life in the Region of Crete.

ESDAK undertook the implementation of the Regional Waste Management Planning (P.E.S.D.A.) in cooperation with its Member Municipalities and with the significant support of the Region of Crete, achieving for our country the transition from the time of HADA to the era of modern waste management infrastructures.

Today many projects are under way, since their necessary funding has been secured, while several studies have been completed and new projects are expected to get to the implementation phase.

However, the completion of the above is not the end of the journey.

It is our obligation to pass to our children a world and an environment better than the one we inherited.

To create the conditions for sustainable and green development.

Zaharias Kalogerakis

President of ESDAK

Who is the United Association of Solid Waste Management in Crete

ESDAK was established in March 2000 as a Local Authority Body (OTA), and was tasked with the handling of waste management in Crete. Since the beginning of year 2011, through the modification of its constituent act (Decision No. 24797, ΦΕΚ 2147 / Β / 31-12-10), it operates as a Solid Waste Management Association (ΦοΔΣΑ). In accordance with Law 4071/2012, once the merger of all Solid Waste Management Associations of Crete is complete, ESDAK is expected to emerge as the new Regional Association of Solid Waste Management of Crete.

Members and Administrative Structure

ESDAK functions as a Public Legal Entity, based in Heraklion, Crete.

At the moment, it consists of 17 local authorities from the three prefectures of Crete (Heraklion, Rethymnon and Lasithi), which makes it the island’s largest Solid Waste Management Association. Members of ESDAK are the following municipalities:

Prefecture of Heraklion

  1. Municipality of Archanes – Asterousia
  2. Municipality of Viannos
  3. Municipality of Gortyn
  4. Municipality of Heraklion
  5. Municipality of Malevizi
  6. Municipality of Minoa – Pediados
  7. Municipality of Phaestos
  8. Municipality of Hersonissos

Prefecture of Rethymnon

  1. Municipality of Agios Vasilios
  2. Municipality of Amari
  3. Municipality of Anogeia
  4. Municipality of Mylopotamos
  5. Municipality of Rethymno

Prefecture of Lassithi

  1. Municipality of Agios Nikolaos
  2. Municipality of Ierapetra
  3. Municipality of Lassithi Plateau
  4. Municipality of Sitia

The Association is governed by the Board of Directors, which is composed of the elected representatives of the Member Municipalities (29 Mayors and City Councilors), the Executive Committee and the President.

ESDAK employs on a permanent basis, highly qualified scientists with vocations related to environmental management. More details about our staff can be found in the relevant organization chart in this website.

Goals

The main aims of ESDAK as a Solid Waste Management Association are:

– The specialization and implementation of the objectives and actions of PESDA of Crete for the collection, transportation, temporary storage, transshipment, treatment, utilization, disposal of solid waste of PESDA Management Units members. The aim is to prevent waste generation, to reduce the harmful effects of waists on health and the environment, as well as to recover waste. We promote re-use, material recovery and recycling or any other process relevant on economic, social, environmental, or public health grounds.

– The documentation of problems and potentials for the management of waste, the proposing of coordinated planning and solutions for top-level or single-task management; and the provision of supporting staff and scientific know-how to the institutions responsible with the management and the coordination of waste management.

– To implement, in the accordance to its competencies, decisions and assignments by its members or other bodies in accordance with applicable law.

– To support with specialized know-how and to promote and co-ordinate the individual or collective initiatives of its local authority members, tasked with waste management.