Athens workers closed only landfill in protest against continued dumping

Workers closed down Athens' only landfill Tuesday to protest against continued dumping of partially treated sewage at the site.

"We have a problem with the foul stench," said Costas Hardas, a spokesman for workers at the Ano Liossia landfill, on the capital's northwestern outskirts. "Another solution must be found."

Athens Mayor Dora Bakoyannis called on city residents to keep their garbage at home for the next few days in a bid to keep mounds of uncollected waste from piling up on the city's streets.

In June, riot police were deployed to break up around 1,000 demonstrators who tried to block off the landfill. A weeklong landfill strike earlier that month caused some 35,000 metric tons (38,600 U.S. tons) of trash to accumulate on the streets of Athens.

The Ano Liossia landfill is nearing capacity and is due to close down next year.

Т.Е.