Filenews 23 June 2025 - by Angelos Nicolaou
The Department of Environment of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment is taking an important step towards compliance with the European directives on waste management, with the announcement of a tender for the preparation of a Feasibility and Feasibility Study regarding the development of an integrated network of waste management infrastructures.
Municipal waste management remains one of the most important challenges of the Republic of Cyprus, due to the high volume of waste production per capita and the low recycling rates. According to data from the Statistical Office, in 2023 waste production in Cyprus reached 653 kg per inhabitant — well above the EU average (511 kg). 76.8% of the waste was sent to landfills, only 16.3% was recycled, while 3.2% and 3.7% were energy utilization and composting respectively.
The target is clear: By 2035, landfill must be reduced to 10% of the total amount produced, in accordance with Directive 2018/850/EU. Cyprus, through the Municipal Waste Management Plan 2022–2028 and the new Feasibility Study, looks forward to the creation of a sustainable and technologically advanced infrastructure network that will strengthen the circular economy, protect the environment and align the country with European standards.
The completion of the municipal waste management infrastructure network should take into account the following European objectives and obligations:
>> Mandatory separate collection of organic waste for which the necessary infrastructure for its management should be created.
>> The reuse and recycling of municipal waste should increase to 55% by 2025, to 60% by 2030 and to 65% by 2035.
>> Waste ending up in landfills should be reduced to 10% by 2035.
>> It should be ensured that only treated waste is disposed of in landfills.
In order to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills to 10%, the need for the production and disposal of secondary fuel or alternatively the creation of a heat treatment unit will be examined in which the residues from the treatment of mixed waste and separately collected municipal waste will end up. For the treatment of the residual waste resulting from the treatment of the mixed waste in the EDAs, the Feasibility Study will assess the need for the construction of a thermal treatment unit for the residual waste resulting from the treatment of the mixed waste and the need for the production and disposal of secondary fuel. The above actions ensure that all parts of municipal waste will be treated without the need to dispose of it in landfills.
In addition to the above objectives and commitments, the implementation of the plan and projects for the completion of the waste management infrastructure network will contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. In particular, the separate collection of organic waste and the reduction of the quantities of municipal waste for landfill, can reduce emissions by about 200,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, in the period 2025-2030, which corresponds to about 0.9% of the achievement of the national emission reduction target for 2030. It is noted that the 0.9% does not include the contribution of the existing EDCs, since this can be calculated when the technology/process that will be selected for their upgrade is determined.
The call is in progress and aims to evaluate the response of existing infrastructures to the new data, the need to create new facilities per province, as well as the energy utilization of residues after the treatment of mixed waste.
The study is part of the Municipal Waste Management Plan 2022–2028, approved by the Council of Ministers in July 2022. This plan is part of the efforts of the Republic of Cyprus to meet its commitments to the EU, in particular with regard to the gradual reduction of landfill and the enhancement of recycling and reuse.
The announcement also concerns the future evaluation of the construction of new units in the Nicosia district, such as:
• Organic waste treatment plant that will be collected at the source.
• A unit for the mechanical processing of recyclable materials that will be collected separately.
The contract is expected to be signed on October 31, 2025. The duration of the contract will be 75 weeks, with the aim of completing the implementation on 9 April 2027. The budget of the project amounts to €820,000 (excluding VAT), with the right to negotiate an additional amount of €150,000, in accordance with Article 29(5) of Law 73(I)/2016.
Emphasis on prevention, recycling and energy recovery
This new initiative is part of the overall strategic planning of the Christodoulides government, which seeks to get Cyprus out of the chronic deviation on waste issues. The central axis of the strategy is the implementation of the principles of the circular economy, with particular emphasis on waste prevention, recycling and energy recovery.
The contribution of the JASPERS initiative (Joint Assistance to Support Projects in European Regions) is considered decisive for the design and support of the relevant projects, which include the upgrade of the Integrated Waste Management Facilities (OEDA) in Pentakomos and Koshi, in order to treat both mixed and organic waste.
On the basis of the results of the Feasibility Study, the publication of tenders, public-private partnership, type "design, construction/upgrade and long-term operation" of the existing and new waste management infrastructures required to complete the network of municipal waste management facilities in Cyprus will follow. It is being examined how the tenders, due to the nature and specificity of the projects, will be carried out through the competitive dialogue process, through which innovative proposals are expected to be submitted by economic operators, in order to select the best solutions for the completion of the waste management infrastructure network.
In parallel with the Feasibility Study, tenders have already been announced for:
• Provision of consulting services for the inspection and evaluation of the Koshi Waste Transfer Station and the Waste Transfer Station (SMA) of Skarinos.
• Drafting of tender documents for the assignment of the operation and maintenance project of the OEDA and the Limassol SMA.
• Services of an accredited Consultant Designer for updating the existing study and estimating the cost for the electromechanical equipment of the Unit.
