The Waste Management Authority of Eastern Macedonia–Thrace took the initiative to investigate the problem of waste management in the cross border area in cooperation with regional public authorities. The main objective of the project is to accelerate the operation of the existing (in Greece) and under completion in the next year (in Bulgaria) infrastructure for the Integrated Municipal Solid Waste Management Systems and their optimization (the two systems cover a Greek Region and an area larger than one Bulgarian Prefecture). A significant objective is also the public awareness for reducing and recycling of the waste and the exchange of experience between the two systems. In addition, the project will accelerate the implementation of the Directive 2008/98/EC on almost the entire length across the Greek-Bulgarian border, leaving no additional expenditure to 30 Municipalities, compared with their current costs. Last but not least, the project will greatly contribute to dealing with the heavy environmental problems and the environmental pollution in urban areas and will trigger integration of technology regarding waste management by promoting recycling not only to enterprises but to citizens as well. Expected Results: The expected results of the project are: 1. Closing of all dumps in Region of Eastern Macedonia - Thrace (GR) and replacement by the operation of three places of Pre-treatment and Temporary Storage and three Sanitary Landfills. 2. Acceleration of the launch and optimization of the operation of the Integrated Municipal Solid Waste Management System in the above Region. 3. Exchange of experience, mainly towards the Bulgarian side, and partially joint development and implementation of the project. 4. Optimization of the waste collection system in Bulgarian Municipalities. 5. Accelerate the launch and starting to a more mature and more efficient level of the Regional Centre for Waste Management and its four Transfer Stations in the Bulgarian region. 6. Promotion and facilitation of the composting, mainly in rural complexes in both countries. 7. Promotion and facilitation of recycling, mainly in urban complexes in both countries. 8. Contribution to the compliance of the two countries with the EU legislation on the management of solid waste.