A 59-year-old man was arrested in northern Greece on environmental pollution charges after police uncovered the illegal dumping of large quantities of construction and mixed solid waste at two sites in the Halkidiki region.
The Environmental Protection Unit of the Thessaloniki police said the man was caught during a coordinated operation early Wednesday while using a loader to transfer waste from a company truck and dump it inside a fenced rural property, where similar materials had already been deposited.
Investigators said the illegal dumping had been taking place gradually since October 2025 and involved construction and demolition debris, as well as mixed waste including wood, mattresses, plastics and old furniture.
Police said the suspect, a company owner, lacked the required environmental permits for the collection, transport, storage and disposal of construction and demolition waste at the two sites.
Authorities said the uncontrolled dumping caused environmental pollution and led to the aesthetic degradation of the surrounding area. The suspect is expected to be referred to a prosecutor.
