Filenews 28 December 2025 - by Angelos Nikolaou
In a decisive move to promote the circular economy and achieve the strict environmental goals of the European Union, the Council of Ministers has approved a fund of €636,899 for the financial support of Local Government Authorities (ATA).
The decision concerns the reward and support of Municipalities and Communities that implemented separate waste collection programs and the "Pay As You Throw" (PDO) system during the year 2024, acting as beacons for the rest of Cyprus.
The financial support is distributed in a targeted manner to areas that have been active in waste management, with the Municipality of Aglantzia (now a district of the Municipality of Nicosia) and the Municipality of Aradippou receiving the largest amounts. Specifically, for the Implementation of the "Pay As You Throw" (PDO) system, the Municipality of Aglantzia will receive €250,000. For the separate collection of recyclable waste, the Municipality of Aradippou will receive €265,609. For the separate collection of recyclable materials, the Municipality of Polis Chrysochous and the Complex of Communities of Tamasos will receive €30,000 each. Finally, the Communities of Ag. Marina Chrysochous – Gialia (Pachyammos, Pomos, Nea Dimmata, Agia Marina Chrysochous, Gialia, Pelathousa, Makounta, Kinousa, Neo Chorio Paphos) will receive €61,290 for the operation of a recyclable materials management program and action by the voluntary organization "Presbyters".
This move is not accidental. Cyprus is required to comply with the European Directive that imposes the recycling of 55% of municipal waste by 2025, a percentage that must reach 65% by 2035.
As stated in the proposal of the Ministry of Agriculture, the separate collection of organic waste (food residues and green pruning) is the biggest challenge for Cypriot society. The PDO system, which was pioneered by Aglantzia, is considered the "key" to convincing citizens to reduce the volume of their garbage.
Of particular importance is the support of remote areas, such as the Tamassos Complex and Polis Chrysochous. These areas are not sufficiently covered by schemes such as Green Dot, with the result that local authorities bear additional costs to offer their citizens the possibility of recycling. State aid comes to fill this gap, ensuring that access to recycling is equal for all, without disproportionately burdening rural residents.
While the current aid is for 2024, the Ministry of Agriculture is preparing the ground for the major project of €25 million through the "THALIA" program. The aim is the universal establishment of source sorting systems throughout Cyprus. Although some ATAs have already completed the necessary actions for the launch of the PDO, however, in order for this to be possible, other actions will have to be preceded, outside the specific project. However, in order to proceed with the full implementation of "Pay As You Throw" everywhere, legislative regulations are still pending in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior and infrastructure for the management of organic waste that will be collected separately, for which the Department of Environment is promoting relevant actions.
"Financial support does not benefit businesses, but the general public," notes the Commissioner for State Aid Control, giving the green light for the disbursement of the funds.
The decision is expected to be published immediately in the Official Gazette of the Republic, sending the message that environmental consciousness is now rewarded in practice by the state. Within 2026, the goal is to launch "Pay As You Throw" with major producers.
