Filenews 2 January 2021
Article by The Minister of Agriculture Costas Kadis in the special edition of the Liberal: "The next day – How we proceed"
Recognising the need to address major environmental challenges, such as climate change, desertification, water, soil and air pollution, loss of biodiversity and overconsumption of natural resources, the European Union has shaped and implemented the Green Agreement, which is essentially its new sustainable development strategy. The Agreement aims to transform the European Union into a fairer and more prosperous society, with a competitive and efficient economy, environmentally friendly and resource-efficient.
In particular with regard to the use of resources, the Green Agreement has at its core the policy of transition to a circular economy. That is, an economy where products do not follow the wasteful linear path of "production – use – disposal", but a circular path, focusing on the reuse, repair, renewal and recycling of used materials and products.
For Cyprus, rational waste management in the context of the circular economy is one of the biggest challenges. 2021 is expected to be a defining year for the finalisation and implementation of the policies we have designed.
An important intersection is the universal application of separate collection at source of recyclable and organic waste. The catalyst for the success of this project is the implementation of "Pay As I Throw" systems, i.e. fair systems, where every citizen will pay only for what he throws and not for what he reuses or recycles. The relevant legislation regulating the above is, after extensive consultation, before the House.
In order to help local authorities to implement such programmes financially, we have secured EUR 20 million in funding from the EU Cohesion Fund. The details of the programme will be announced in early 2021.
As part of our cooperation with local authorities, programmes to reduce waste from beach hotels and other sites are being implemented or will soon be implemented in the provinces of Larnaca, Famagusta, Limassol and Paphos.
We are also in the final stage of the legislation on the implementation of a sponsorship system for beverage packaging. In this way we value empty packaging and push citizens not to reject them but to recycle them in order to reap that value.
At the same time, we have tabled in the House the bill that provides for the rational management of waste pharmaceutical products. The bill provides for a ban on the disposal of medicinal products of domestic origin in mixed waste and drains. Citizens will be able to reject medicines that they do not need or have passed their expiry date at affordable collection points.
The plastic bag charge measure at the tills proved to be a success, as it brought a reduction in sales of plastic bags in supermarkets by more than 80 %. With legislation that we have prepared, we are going one step further: the complete abolition of the plastic bag in the coffers.
The bill on the incorporation of Directive 2019/904/EU on reducing the impact of certain plastic products on the environment, through which certain disposable plastics will be banned, is expected to be tabled soon.
Particular emphasis is placed on the exploitation of materials resulting from excavations, constructions and demolitions. Within the next few days, a proposal is being forwarded to the Council of Ministers aimed at developing an improved institutional framework for the more efficient use of these materials, within the framework of the principles of the circular economy.
At the level of infrastructure projects, we focus in cooperation with local authorities, on upgrading existing green spots as well as creating new ones, as well as collection points for recyclable and bulky materials (Green corners). In 2021 more than 30 green corners will be created in areas of mountainous and semi-mountainous Cyprus, while in cooperation with the Commissioner of Mountain Communities we implement the "Programme for the prevention, separate collection and recovery of municipal waste from mountain/semi-mountainous Cyprus".
The citizens themselves are a key component of the success of the above policies and we are therefore moving forward with a number of information and awareness-raising actions, in cooperation with other organised groups.
Our country's transition to a circular economy marks a new path to green growth and sustainability. We have a unique opportunity to radically change the way we manage our environment and natural resources and deliver to future generations a more sustainable, clean and green Cyprus.
