Filenews 1 April 2021 - by Angelos Nikolaou
The successful example of the Municipality of Aglantzia "I pay as much as I throw" (PDO), is expected to be implemented with the new year on a Cyprus basis. The aim is to reduce the burial of biodegradable materials, increase the recycling and reuse rate of materials and prevent waste generation. The program in the Municipality of Aglantzia provides for the disposal of rubbish only in prepaid bags and the parallel abolition of the licence fees for dogs.
According to the available data, in the two months of universal implementation of the programme there was 99.3% participation by the inhabitants and a reduction of 39 % (561 tonnes). Now, he said, the average citizen of Aglantzia produces 251 kg per year compared to 570 kg produced annually by the average Cypriot citizen. Recycling also increased by 27%.
The project "Pay as I throw" was presented at a press conference at the Presidential Palace by the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Costas Kadis, in the presence of the President of the Republic, Nikos Anastasiades. Through the programme with a budget of €25 million, the Project will be funded by the European Investment Bank (EIB). a system of sorting at source and separate collection of recyclable and organic/biological waste is established and provides for the implementation of a PDO system with a prepaid bag.
In his greeting, the President of the Republic said that for the first time Cypriot citizens are being asked to radically change their habits in the way waste is managed. According to Mr Anastasiades, this Strategy is expected to significantly improve our country's performance in the areas of waste recycling and reuse. "At the same time, by strengthening green entrepreneurship and employment in the relevant sectors, new jobs will be created and we will have further growth of the Cypriot economy," stressed Mr Anastasiades. The main implementing bodies of the programme and more generally of the sorting systems at source and separate waste collection, are the Local Government Authorities (ATA).
The main actions include preparation for the programme, implementation of a public information campaign, procurement of sorting equipment at source and separate collection, preparation and implementation of an information system to monitor the project. The call for expressions of interest will be in April and a proposal should be made within 5 months. An evaluation and implementation will follow in late 2021.
He noted that Cyprus has significant challenges ahead of it since in 2019 it had reached only 15% in preparation for the reuse and recycling of municipal waste, while the amount of municipal waste that ended up in landfills was particularly increased. He explained that the goal is for Cyprus to reach municipal waste recycling at 55% in 2025, 60% in 2030 and 65% in 2035. It also said that from 1 January 2025 households should collect hazardous waste separately, while from 31 December 2023 organic waste would either be separated and recycled at source, or collected separately so as not to mix with other types of waste.
