Summary

The municipality of Apokoronas is seeking a legal opinion on whether it can install surveillance cameras at locations where bulky waste is illegally dumped on a recurring basis. The municipality's legal department has been asked to assess the legality of such cameras under GDPR and Greek data protection law, including whether a formal data protection impact assessment would be required. No cameras will be installed until the legal review is complete.

Apokoronas looks at CCTV to curb illegal dumping of bulky waste

Old furniture, mattresses, construction rubble and electrical appliances are repeatedly abandoned on roads, in streambeds, on farmland and in public spaces across Apokoronas. Despite regular clean-up operations and repeated public appeals, the problem persists and, according to the municipality, is worsening in some areas.

The municipality is now exploring whether surveillance cameras could be placed at the worst-affected spots to deter offenders and help identify those responsible. To that end, the municipal administration has asked its legal department to produce a full written opinion on the matter.

What the legal review will examine

The legal department has been asked to address three specific questions:

Legality: whether installing and operating surveillance cameras to protect the environment and public property is permitted under current law

Compliance requirements: what conditions and procedures must be met to comply fully with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Greek legislation, and the guidelines of the Greek Data Protection Authority

Impact assessment: whether a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) or other formal procedure is required before cameras can be installed

What this means for residents

No cameras are going up yet. The municipality will wait for the legal opinion before taking any concrete steps. The review is intended to ensure that any future system is fully lawful before it is deployed.

For residents who follow the rules — the clear majority, according to the municipality — the initiative is a response to the financial and environmental cost imposed by a small number of people illegally dumping waste. Every clean-up operation is paid for by the community as a whole.

For anyone currently disposing of bulky items illegally, the direction of travel is clear: the municipality says it has exhausted softer approaches and is now looking at enforcement tools.

What happens next

The outcome of the legal opinion will determine whether, and under what conditions, cameras can be installed. No timeline has been given for when the opinion will be delivered or when any follow-up decision might be taken.

Residents with bulky items to dispose of are encouraged to use the municipality's official collection services rather than leaving items in public spaces.

PRESS RELEASE – "The Municipality of Apokoronas is examining the provision of a legal opinion on the possibility of installing a video surveillance system at locations where uncontrolled dumping of bulky waste is repeatedly observed."

June 17, 2026, 8:05 AM

The protection of the environment, public health, the quality of life of residents, and the image of Apokoronas is a non-negotiable priority of the Municipal Authority.

In recent years, despite the continuous interventions of the municipality's services, the immediate removal of waste, and repeated appeals to citizens to respect shared spaces and the natural environment, a phenomenon has been observed at specific locations within the municipality that not only persists but in some cases is taking on alarming proportions: the illegal and uncontrolled dumping of bulky waste.

Old furniture, mattresses, construction materials, electrical appliances, and all manner of bulky objects are being abandoned on roads, in streambeds, in agricultural areas, and in public spaces, creating scenes that do not honour our place, degrade the natural environment, burden the municipality financially, and ultimately wrong the great majority of residents who respect the rules and love Apokoronas.

This situation cannot continue.

The Municipality of Apokoronas will not stand passively watching the systematic degradation of our place by the irresponsible behaviour of the few who believe they can turn public spaces into uncontrolled dumpsites, indifferent to the consequences they cause to the environment and their fellow citizens.

In this context, the Mayor of Apokoronas, Charalampos Koukianakis, sent an official request to the Municipality's Legal Department requesting a complete and documented opinion regarding the possibility of installing and operating video surveillance systems at selected locations where incidents of illegal dumping of bulky waste are repeatedly recorded.

This initiative forms part of the investigation into additional prevention and deterrence measures against the phenomenon, with absolute respect for the applicable legal framework, the provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Greek legislation, and the guidelines of the Personal Data Protection Authority.

The requested opinion will examine:

The legality of installing and operating video surveillance systems for the protection of the environment and municipal property.
The conditions and procedures required for full compliance with the applicable institutional framework.
The need to carry out a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) or other required procedures.

The Mayor of Apokoronas, Charalampos Koukianakis, stated: "Apokoronas is nobody's rubbish dump. It is the place we received and have a duty to hand on cleaner and better. We have exhausted information, awareness-raising and appeals to everyone. But when some people persist in disregarding our common place, we are obliged to examine every lawful means that can work as a deterrent and be effective.

The protection of the environment is a matter of civilisation, respect, responsibility and dignity. We will not allow a few to nullify the efforts of an entire society that struggles daily for a beautiful, clean and sustainable Apokoronas.

The Municipality of Apokoronas will continue to utilise every available and lawful tool for the protection of the natural environment, the defence of public health and the safeguarding of the quality of life of residents, sending a clear message: 'tolerance towards behaviours that offend our place has now been exhausted.'

Apokoronas deserves respect. And respect for our place is a matter for all of us."