Filenews 22 January 2022 - by Angelos Nikolaou
Significant changes in the waste sector come through the new Municipal Waste Management Strategy for the period 2021 - 2027. The Strategy, which was prepared through technical assistance secured by the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment (YGAAP) from the European Commission, is expected to be put to public consultation early next week for a month. It is being examined whether there will also be a consultation in person. The final draft will then be prepared, which is expected to be submitted to the Council of Ministers in mid-March. It is noted that a Strategic Environmental Impact Study will be carried out for the Municipal Waste Management Plan, which will be examined by the competent Evaluation Committee.
All plans take into account the new institutional framework, as dictated by the Green Deal and the European Union Action Plan for the Circular Economy, as well as the problems that have accumulated in the waste management sector in Cyprus, due to wrong decisions of the last decades. It also takes into account the economic tools already promoted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to reduce waste production and the new role of local government authorities. By the end of 2022, a system of separate collection at source and separate collection of municipal waste, including organic waste, the implementation of the "Pay as I Throw" system, the application of a landfill tax, the application of an environmental tax to single-use plastic products and products with plastic content, the reduction of the VAT rate for second-hand products and secondary raw materials are expected to be established, the implementation of guarantee schemes and return and refilling systems, and the creation of a waste management fund to finance waste management programmes, initiatives and innovations. The above are expected to provide incentives to citizens to reduce and properly sort their waste for reuse and recycling. With the implementation of the above, 50%-60% of organic waste will be significantly reduced in the first stage and therefore a reduction in the production of mixed waste currently transferred to waste management plants will be achieved.
The big challenge is to make full use of the existing waste management infrastructure. In essence, the Integrated Waste Management Facilities (OEDA) in Koshi and Pentakomo will remain in operation. Waste from Larnaca, Famagusta and Nicosia will still end up in the Koshi plant. In Pentakomo, apart from the waste of Limassol, the waste of the Pafos district (apart from the organic ones) will also be transported. Therefore, the existing infrastructure will be exploited to the maximum extent and strengthened by developing new infrastructure where necessary.
Within the strategy there are provisions for the waste that will be generated in the next decade. By 2025 it is estimated that waste generation will amount to 631,000 tonnes, of which 55% will be recycled. Based on the forecasts 347,000 tonnes will come from a separate collection, of which 151,000 tonnes will come from a separate collection concerning organics and the 196,000 recyclables. The remaining 284,000 concern the mixed waste and are divided into 185,000 forthe secondary fuel RDF or landfill and in biostabilization the 99,000 tons.
Therefore, once separate collection at source and separate collection of municipal waste are implemented, the two OEDAs will have overcapacity, due to the projected reduction of mixed waste. It is noted that the plant in Pentakomo already produces RDF, which however is not in good quality so far and therefore should be supported. However, in the immediate planning is for the unit in Koshi to be upgraded and a new line installed in order to produce in turn the RDF/SRF. It is stressed that increasing the production of RDF from mixed waste is considered necessary to reduce the quantities landfilled. The target for 2035 is for only 10% of household waste to be landfilled.
Considering the need to increase the production of RDF it is necessary to ensure its availability. The aim is to end up the entire amount of RDF produced by the two plants to only one recipient. This can be achieved in two ways based on the data to date. The first is the disposal of RDF in units in Cyprus, e.g. in Vasilikos cement works. The second option is for the Republic of Cyprus to proceed with the tender notice in order to construct a waste power plant for the acceptance of the RDF. In this case, it is expected that this unit will be somewhere centrally between the two OEDA units. It is noted that the operation of a waste to energy plant has been of concern to the government in the past, but its implementation has not progressed. It is estimated that the cost of constructing a plant for the energy recovery of waste amounts to approximately €200 million. and therefore the individual who is likely to bear such a large cost should also take any risk in order to be viable.
Immediate upgrading of existing infrastructure
Immediate measures to be taken in relation to the infrastructure for waste management are the installation of pasteurizers for organic waste management, in order to allow the implementation of separate collection. Short-term measures include the installation of small-scale equipment at the Pafos landfill and at the transmission stations for mechanical sorting of waste.
As regards the long-term measures, they concern the strengthening of the infrastructure for each province for the management of recyclable waste, the management of separate collected organic waste, the management of mixed waste, as well as the management of organic waste from mixed waste from the mixed waste of the OEDAs.
KOSTAS KADIS
Waste management in a holistic way
Speaking to "F", the competent minister Costas Kadis, said the following: "It is known that on the issue of waste management, Cyprus has been lagging behind over time, since in the last three decades decisions had been taken that created many distortions.
We also know that there have been convictions by the courts in this matter, and some have even been sent to prison. Wanting to correct these distortions and address the issue of waste management in our country in a holistic and rational way, especially taking into account the new ambitious green policies of the European Union, we asked for the assistance of the European Commission itself, which provided it to us through technical assistance.
The strategy prepared in this context aims precisely to address waste management in Cyprus in a holistic way, overturning the image of the past and improving all the indicators in which our country is lagging behind. It is very important that, through the Recovery and Resilience Plan and other funds, we have already secured the resources to implement this strategy."