Why we need to act
Greece is breathtakingly beautiful – and yet scarred by illegal dumpsites. We want to change that.
What is ARGIF?
ARGIF – Attica Recycling & Green Infrastructure Fund was born from a simple question: how can we give citizens in Attica a legal, affordable way to dispose of their waste properly – and at the same time create a realistic alternative to landfill-based business models?
Our answer: treat waste management as critical infrastructure. ARGIF is designed to finance, build and operate recycling centres, collection points and modern treatment facilities – in partnership with municipalities and private investors. Citizens get a clear, legal drop-off point. Municipalities gain cleaner public spaces, predictable structures and a flagship project for circular economy.
Instead of ever-growing landfills, we want pathways that keep materials in the loop. Instead of blame, we seek cooperation – between municipalities, citizens and investors.
ARGIF is more than a project. It is an offer to change the system – step by step, with realistic, financeable solutions.
How it all started
For years I kept asking myself the same question: how can a country as beautiful as Greece be surrounded by so many informal dumpsites? Piles of rubble by the roadside, old furniture in olive groves, construction waste in dry riverbeds. I could not understand how people could treat their own landscape this way.
The answer arrived in a very personal moment – after my father passed away. As we cleared his house, I suddenly stood in front of decades of accumulated belongings: furniture, timber, equipment, boxes, memories. All of it had to go somewhere.
Having grown up in Germany, the solution felt obvious: you sort the materials and take them to a municipal recycling centre. It is well organised and almost free of charge. So I tried to do the same in Athens – and quickly realised that this option simply does not exist.
There was no easy, legal and affordable way to dispose of larger amounts of waste. The only official solution I was offered was to order private containers. Around 270 € per container, plus a permit from the municipality to place the container on the pavement for two weeks – another 160 €.
I needed four containers. In the end I paid well over 1,000 € just to dispose of my father’s belongings in a legal way. At that moment everything clicked: if it costs me, as a well-earning doctor, this much money to do the right thing – how is an average family supposed to manage?
When I asked the local administration where citizens should take their waste if they cannot afford a container, the answer was disarmingly simple: small items can be left next to the bins, for bigger items you order a container. The containers then end up at the municipal landfill – which, as I learned, is an important source of income for the municipality.
In those days I hardly slept. For the first time I truly understood: we do not mainly have a waste problem – we have a structural problem. People are effectively punished for trying to dispose of their waste responsibly. And municipalities are financially rewarded when landfills grow.
Out of this experience – four containers, more than 1,000 € and many sleepless nights – the idea that has now become ARGIF was born.
Our goal is a clean environment where everyone can enjoy the magnificent beaches and breathtaking nature.
Our mission is to preserve the beauty of our coasts through clean environmental initiatives, so that all visitors and residents can experience nature undisturbed.
Together for a clean environment and unparalleled natural beauty.
We are creating a clear environment so that everyone can enjoy our beaches and landscapes in all their glory.
Clean beaches for everyone.
Clean coastlines protect nature and offer recreation for every visitor, thereby promoting quality of life and tourism.
Preserving natural beauty.
Preserving our landscape ensures sustainable protection and enables a harmonious coexistence of humans and nature.
Promoting environmental awareness.
Through education and joint action, we strengthen awareness of environmental protection in our community.
Experience the beauty of our beaches.
Here we present carefully selected images that showcase our clean environment and enchanting coastal landscapes.
Why we must act now
Our natural environment shows more clearly than any statistics why we cannot wait. Change begins when we choose to look.
Our contribution to environmental protection
We are creating a clean environment so that everyone can enjoy the magnificent beaches and landscapes undisturbed.
Step One: Raising Awareness
We inform the community about the importance of a clean environment as the basis for our common goal.
Step Two: Start the action
Together we are implementing clean-up campaigns to protect and preserve our beaches and nature.
Step three: Ensure sustainability
We promote sustainable behaviors so that our beautiful environment is preserved for the long term.
Together we can create a cleaner environment.
Together we ensure a clean environment so that everyone can enjoy our beautiful beaches and stunning scenery.