Used mineral oils are still being burned in Greece, sending carcinogenic dioxins into the atmosphere, or are buried in landfill sites, polluting the soil and water table, despite a 1987 European Union directive instructing member states to draw up plans to dispose of used mineral oils safely, chiefly by recycling.

A high-level EU team met with Environment and Public Works Ministry officials in early July after the EU issued Greece with a “considered opinion” on June 26. The team received a commitment from the ministry it would issue a presidential decree for regulating the matter by December. The promise did not satisfy Brussels, which included the issue in a package of charges brought against Greece this week.

The problem is particularly acute in the islands, where the used oils are usually burnt in lime kilns due to the expense and difficulty of transporting them to Athens.

According to sources, the list of recycling plants Greece showed the Commission is insufficient to cope with the additional 20,000 tons of oils imported from North Africa and Saudi Arabia.