Pafos Live 5 August 2024
The percentage of separation of materials for recycling coming from Green Dot is 50-60%, and not 15% as mentioned in a relevant publication, the Department of Environment said in a statement. According to what he says, this percentage is in the context of achieving our obligations in relation to European Directives.
Responding to an article in the newspaper "Fileleftheros", the Department of Environment states that the reference made to the recycling of 15% of the materials that end up in the Koshi OEDA concerns mixed waste, which ends up in the plant. On the contrary, he clarifies, the percentage of separation of materials for recycling coming from Green Dot amounts to 50-60%. "This percentage is in the context of achieving our obligations in relation to the European Directives," he notes.
Regarding the report, the Department of Environment states that following the fire and total destruction of the licensed waste management unit ECOBALANCE in July 2023, the collective system of Green Dot requested the approval of the Department of Environment for the receipt and management by the OEDA Koshi unit of PMD recyclable packaging collected through the collective system from the Nicosia districts. Larnaka and Famagusta.
This request arose due to the fact that there are no other licensed units that can receive the PMD recyclable packaging collected in the 3 provinces. It is noted that the only licensed unit for receiving PMD is in Limassol and according to its capacity serves the districts of Limassol and Paphos.
Regarding recyclable packaging paper, Green Dot has arranged for its receipt from licensed recycling plants.
"Recognizing the need to take immediate measures after the fire in order to continue recycling, the Department of Environment approved the emergency receipt of PMD waste from the Koshi OEDA plant. The aim is to continue the mechanical sorting of materials with the possibility of separating them and forwarding them for management to recycling plants abroad and at the same time their safe management taking into account the risks for fires compared to other solutions", he notes.
In addition, it is reported that the quantities of packaging waste that end up in the Koshi OEDA from the collective system are less than 10,000 tons per year compared to the total quantities collected by the system which amount to 75,000 tons per year (commercial and residential).
According to Green Dot, packaging waste at the Koshi OEDA plant is not delivered free of charge and the collective system has no revenue from the value of these materials, the Department of Environment said in a statement.
Although finding permanent solutions is time-consuming, the Department is in constant contact with the collective system, providing support in order to immediately proceed with the appropriate procedures that will fully serve the achievement of recycling targets based on European directives.
"The Department of Environment, as a constant supporter and long-standing promoter of recycling, makes every effort, within the framework of its responsibilities, to maintain and strengthen the process. Its aim is to protect the environment, but also to change and consolidate a mentality that is gradually developing with so much effort in Cyprus", he concludes.
