Filenews 10 July 2024
The Department of Environment in its announcement, in response to the letter of complaint to the House Standing Committee on the Environment of the Cyprus Recycling Agency (OAC) for non-implementation of the legislation on the management of waste from construction and demolition (CDW), notes that the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, implements the current legislation, taking into account modern challenges, strengthening and supporting the general need for sustainable development and promotion of the circular economy.
The Department in its announcement states that from the first moment instructions were given by the competent Minister Maria Panagiotou to respond to the letter and arrange a meeting and briefing of the OAK in her presence, which was arranged for Friday 12/7/2024.
In the lengthy announcement, the Department, inter alia, informs that following the approval of the Waste (Management of Waste from Construction and Demolition) Regulations of 2023 (ΚΔΠ 112/2023) by the House of Representatives, it made presentations and briefings on the framework for the adoption of Κ.Δ.Π. 112/2023 of interested parties and bodies.
He adds that under the instructions of the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, a campaign was carried out within March 2024, in accordance with the Waste (Management of Waste from Construction and Demolition) Regulations of 2023 (Κ.Δ.Π.112/20123) to project owners producing CDW and/or CDW producers, for compliance control and notes that during the campaign more than 100 checks were carried out on producers/contractors and 30 out-of-court settlements totalling €21,000 were issued.
It further states that the Department of Environment continues its controls to combat illegal discharges of CDW, depending on the possibility, in the context of investigating complaints and/or sampling new projects per district.
In addition, it notes the preparation of a draft Decree entitled "the Waste [Application Form for the Granting of a Waste Management License for the Operation of an Individual/Collective Waste Management System from Construction and Demolition (CDW)] Decree of 2024", in accordance with Regulation 13(2)(a), which defines the data and information required in the application for a Waste Management License for the Operation of an Individual or Collective Waste Management System by Construction and Demolition (CDW) which is expected to be issued soon.
Furthermore, it lists a series of actions implemented in parallel, within the framework of the work of the Technical Committee established following a decision of the Council of Ministers, to promote the use of recyclable materials resulting from CDW processing in the context of the implementation of the circular economy.
He adds that in the context of prevention, reduction, proper management of CCIs, achievement of recycling and containment control targets, uncontrolled dumping in fields, streams or landfills and in the context of implementing the circular economy, the Ministry will continue its actions towards the rational management of waste, applying the existing Legislation.
In addition, the Ministry, in its effort to continuously optimize the legal framework, studies and evaluates new good practices of circular economy, such as Extended Producer Responsibility schemes, which, through a set of measures, ensure that any producer or importer of construction products bears financial and organizational responsibility for the management of waste from this product at the end of its life.
CNA
