AMKA: New Social Security Number - You Need to Know This!

Many thanks to Anna Capernaros for bringing this to our attention. AMKA is the new Social Security Number that is currently being issued to all residents. Anna writes: “This concerns anyone - Greek or foreigner - living and working in Greece, or retired and a pensioner who is currently insured under a Greek health scheme such as IKA etc. I spotted an advert about this on Greek TV by chance and discovered those concerned are supposed to have applied for their new number by July this year. So for example a person such as myself who is a pensioner but insured under IKA as a European resident has to have an AMKA number. To receive an AMKA number go to your local KEP Office (Citizens’ Advice Bureau) take your passport and Afimi (Tax number ) and I took my IKA book also - and they will submit your application online - and sometime after this you get an AMKA card through the post. You can also submit your application directly to AMKA offices but they are only in Heraklion and Hania - see their website www.amka.gr”

Bugle update: Some people may have found that this new card has been automatically been sent to them through the post. However, if you haven’t received your AMKA card by the time you read this, it is a good idea to go to your local KEP office, and take your health insurance book (e.g. IKA book) with you. There is now talk of extending the deadline for submission until October, as many people have only just found out about this. However, as always , it is best to check this out for yourself. KEP website: www.kep.gov.gr

There is a fair amount of ’Green News’ from the Rethymnon region this month. In May, we reported that there were potential problems with the Amari landfill site. We haven’t received any updates on this, but when we do, we’ll let you know. However, on the recycling front, things would appear to be looking up. In April, approximately 3.5 tons of unwanted / broken electrical goods were received by the local recycling depot. This was a marked increase on previous months, and hopefully represents a shift in attitude towards the dumping / fly tipping of broken computers and fridges etc. (though, it also has to be said, this increase at the beginning of the season may be a ’spike’ due to businesses upgrading their equipment after the winter break). For details of where and how to dispose of unwanted electrical items, see our ‘Where Can I Recycle Waste Items?’ section below.

The Municipality has announced several policy initiatives in recent weeks designed to bring the region more in line with the rest of Europe in terms of ecological awareness. At a recent council meeting it was announced that ‘henceforth’ it will be obligatory for businesses and residents to recycle. Businesses in the Old Town that are too far away from the special wheelie bins (for those not familiar with Rethymnon some of the streets in the Old Town are too narrow for wheelie bins) are supposed to have their own a special bin (bucket) for recyclable material, which will be collected by the waste disposal truck that passes through town twice a day. The policy is made with good intent, certainly, but there may be a few glitches involved with enforcement in the first instance. For example, the question was raised at the meeting as to what happens to those shops that are too small ‘to house their own recycling bucket?’ The official response was that if that is the case, then people would have to take their rubbish to the nearest available bucket. We see some potential issues with this, particularly during the height of the tourist season. As for prosecuting local residents who fail to dispose of their rubbish appropriately, it’s hard to see how the culprits are going to be identified, given that many of us use communal bins. But hey, let’s not be too cynical. From little acorns grow great oaks, or so they say. On a more positive note, it has also now been made compulsory for local businesses to recycle cooking oil. There are three companies that now go door - to - door collecting used oil from restaurants etc. It is hoped that soon local residents will also be able to participate in this scheme. The plan is to place three special containers at different points in town where people can deposit their used oil. Once we have more details, we will let you know.

Where Can I Recycle Waste Items?

Apart from using the blue and yellow recycling bins for household waste other items can be recycled as follows:
Disposal of broken electrical goods. There is a depot just outside town which will take anything ‘that had a plug on it’ (including washing machines and fridges). Drivers, take the National Road towards Heraklion in Misiria. Turn off the highway after about 100—150 metres, hang a right and you should soon see recycling bins etc. The depot is open from 6am to 3pm on weekdays, and from 6am to 12 noon at weekends. For further information call 28310 57940. For large objects that need collection call 195 from any phone.
Old telephones and small telecoms items. There is a green bin in the entrance of the main OTE office..
Batteries. various places in town including OTE, DEI, Germanos, Marinopoulos and Champion.
Old cars. DRAKOS on the left hand side of the National Road a short way out of Rethymnon (going towards Hania). They even pay you as they recycle the spares and give you a paper for tax purposes!