The mayor of the Thessaloniki district of Menemeni yesterday called on a local prosecutor to order the reopening of a new landfill that is currently being blocked by protesting residents, causing the accumulation of thousands of tons of garbage.

As residents of municipalities near the Mavrorachi landfill prevent garbage trucks from accessing the site, trash is piling up amid rising temperatures, posing a public health risk, said Menemeni Mayor Giorgos Aktselis.

Last month local authorities opted to start using the Mavrorachi landfill “on a trial basis” in a bid to shut down the saturated Tagarades landfill. But residents are fiercely opposed to the operation of the site at Mavrorachi particularly – they claim – as it is being used by garbage trucks from several municipalities.

“This action poses a risk to public health so steps must be taken by prosecuting authorities,” Aktselis said.