Filenews 18 March 2022
With the reminder that recycling and reuse play an important role in curbing the problem of reducing land resources and that turning rubbish into resources is the key to the circular economy, World Recycling Day is celebrated today, 18 March.
A day that was established in 2018 to help recognize the importance that recycling plays in preserving the earth's resources and securing the future of our planet.
The mission of World Recycling Day, as defined by the World Recycling Foundation, is twofold, firstly to send the message to world leaders that recycling is very important and urgently needs a common approach and secondly to send the message to people all over the world that they need to think about scarce resources and put recycling and reuse into practice.
Cyprus - waste generation - recycling
The total amount of municipal solid waste produced in Cyprus amounted to 543,000 tons in 2020, compared to 571,000 tons in 2019, marking a decrease of 4.9%, according to the latest updated data of the Statistical Service.
Of the quantity of 462,000 tons managed in 2020, 78.8% was disposed of in landfills (OEDA, landfills), 18.3% was forwarded for recycling, 1.2% was composted and 1.7% was used for energy recovery.
According to data from Green Dot, in 2021, 12,514 tons of PMD, 9,889 tons of paper and 5,963 tons of glass were recycled, a total of 29,727 tons. In 2020, a total of 27,319 tons of waste were recycled.
In 2020, the average production of municipal waste per inhabitant in the European Union was 505 kg. In Cyprus, the per capita production of municipal waste reached 609 kg, which is one of the highest among the EU Member States.
Denmark has the highest generation of municipal waste per inhabitant (845 kg) followed by Luxembourg (790 kg), Malta (643 kg), Germany (632 kg) and Cyprus (609 kg).
The situation in Cyprus and the EU - waste management
According to the national waste management plan, the key to the circular economy is to turn waste into a resource.
As mentioned, the objectives and targets set in the European Legislation are key driving forces for improving waste management, stimulating innovation in the recycling sector, limiting the use of landfilling, and creating incentives to change consumer behaviour.
If we re-manufacture, reuse and recycle, and if the waste of an industry
used as raw materials in another, Europe will be able to move towards a more circular economy, where waste is reduced and different resources are used in an efficient and sustainable/sustainable way.
According to data, 16 tonnes of materials are currently used in Europe per person per year, of which 6 tonnes end up as waste.
Although waste management continues to improve in the EU, the European economy today continues to lose significant amounts of potential "secondary raw materials", such as waste streams of metals, wood, glass, paper, plastic.
According to Environmental Data Centre and Eurostat, in terms of household waste alone, each person in Europe currently produces, on average, half the ton of such waste. Only 40% are reused or recycled and in some countries more than 80% still end up in landfills.
Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), such as computers, televisions, refrigerators and mobile phones, are the fastest growing waste streams in the EU, with around 9 million tonnes produced in 2005, and were expected to increase to more than 12 million tonnes in 2020.
As far as vehicles are concerned, it is estimated that every year at the end of their life they produce between 7 and 8 million tonnes of waste in the European Union, which should be properly managed. Every year, around 800 000 tonnes of car batteries, 190 000 tonnes of industrial batteries and 160 000 tonnes of consumer batteries enter the European Union.
Not all quantities are collected and recycled properly at the end of their lives, thus increasing the risk of releasing hazardous substances and wasting resources.
Construction and demolition waste (CDW) is one of the heaviest and most massive waste streams produced in the EU and is considered as a priority stream.
They account for 25% - 30% of all waste produced in the EU and consisting of many materials, including concrete, bricks, plaster, wood, glass, metals, plastic, various solvents, asbestos and excavated soils, most of which can be recycled.
Most licensed metal waste managers in Cyprus (collection, transport and treatment) also hold a permit for the management of streams of waste electrical and electronic equipment, inks and toners. A total of 107 licensed entities are listed.
In Cyprus there are currently 23 Green Points and 4 mobile units in operation.
The various clinical wastes are collected by the producers /holders of clinical waste (hospitals, clinics, dental clinics, large livestock units, etc.) by licensed collectors-carriers and transported to licensed treatment plants, in which they are subjected to appropriate sterilization, and then the sterile waste is disposed of in appropriate waste disposal sites. Only 2 licensed management stakeholders are listed in Cyprus.
The waste of edible oils and fats is collected directly from the various catering establishments (restaurants, hotels, etc.) by licensed collectors-carriers, is temporarily stored and is used either directly in anaerobic treatment plants for the purpose of biogas production and then the production of electrical and thermal energy, or for the production of biodiesel for the purposes of power or electricity production, or for export to units abroad, or even as feed in poultry farming (negligible amount).
It is reported that waste collection points for edible oils and fats have also been fixed in a number of public schools in various provinces. At the same time, hotels and restaurants /taverns are obliged by law to comply with contracts with licensed collectors-carriers.
As far as the EU's recycling targets are concerned, by 2025 65% of all packaging, 50% of all plastics, 25% of wood, 70% of iron, 50% of aluminium, 70% of glass and 75% of paper/board should be recycled.
Moreover, according to a survey in Cyprus, households waste more food than they estimate, with 73% buying more than the necessary quantities of food and 85% of households stating that when preparing or ordering food there are leftovers.
As the survey records, the average household throws away 23% of its weekly purchases on food, vegetables and fruits, while Cypriots when throwing food and food in the trash feel mostly remorse (56%) and that they wasted their money unfairly (46%).
Youth Dynamics at the forefront of climate crisis, recycling and waste reduction
Youth Dynamics launched a campaign on environmental issues since last January which culminates in May with actions in the context of youth exchange through Erasmus, which was named Recycle from the initials of the participating countries (Romania, Estonia, Cyprus, Croatia, Latvia, Espana).
On the occasion of today's recycling day, some actions focus on this theme, while on March 22nd, on the occasion of the water day, beaches will be cleaned in Larnaca.
Vassilis Christofi of Youth Dynamics told CNA that the recycling campaign involves youth organizations from almost all over Cyprus and funding was given by the Youth Organization through the youth initiatives program.
"There are about 200 people involved in this campaign, our team has members in almost all provinces and small actions are being carried out in different places. The idea arose out of concern of our members about the situation with climate change, environmental destruction and extreme weather events. They contacted us and organized this campaign titled I think ECO-Logically," he said.
As he told us, they also chose the title of the program, which indicates that with simple, logical, daily movements, citizens change habits and become more active and sensitized.
The actions, about forty in number, include, among others, tree plantings, a clean-up campaign in green areas and paths, a campaign for recycling and the use of recyclable materials and for composting.
Mr. Christofi said that recycling and reuse in universities is promoted mainly through youths and student organizations and in the plans is to have communication and coordination with Municipalities and schools for the education of students for the development of ecological consciousness.
"Young people themselves recycle at home and separate materials in universities, encourage the reduction of plastic water bottles and use reusable bottles and encourage the use of public transport and cycling where possible," he said.
He told us that young people saw positively and embraced the campaign and are constantly putting forward new ideas such as cleaning a specific area in Lakatamia which was found to be full of rubbish.
"If everyone starts cleaning their neighbourhood, the neighbourhood park and the square and coordinated through the Ministries of Education and Agriculture, but also separately or through the great Action Let's do it Cyprus, then we will all benefit and the difference will be big and noticeable," he told CNA.
Mr. Christofi said that some deficiencies exist and some problems have not been addressed, such as the absence of recycling and green spots in mountainous areas.
CNA
