Jan 22 - For many years Greece has been plagued by illegal garbage dumps that pose a serious threat to the health of the population.

Greece had until the end of 2008 to close down at least 1,102 illegal dump sites of 3,035 in total that existed in the country or face European Union fines of 34,000 euros per dump, per day. The government says 417 remain open out of the total, eight of which are of urgent concern to the European Union, and will now be reporting its results to the EU this month. The fines have not yet been imposed.

Environmentalists said its not about the money, but the cost to human health and enforcing laws.

Deborah Kyvrikosaios reports.

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