Filenews 26 December 2025
The vulnerabilities in the issue of waste management, from the absence of separate collection and the non-formation of old garbage dumps to their burial instead of recycling (even when they reach the recyclers), points out the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on the Environment, Mr. Charalambos Theopemptou, a few months before handing over the baton, given that he will not be in the next Parliament.
It also indicates that liquid waste is being dumped at the Polemidia dam, while the preparation for the management of plastic bottles has not even begun. It refers to the lack of control over the recycling process of electrical and electronic devices, which some dismantle in order to utilize, while at the same time chairs, sofas and furniture that could be used are discarded.
The most important issues raised by Mr. Theopemptou and related to the management of organic and other waste, are listed below:
-600 large garbage dumps were officially identified, funds were allocated for their cleaning and not even half of the community leaders were interested, perhaps because they know that such a thing would be an unfair effort, in the sense that they will be filled again.
-In 2018, the Waste Directive was amended, including a provision that 6 years later (i.e. in January 2024) we would proceed with a separate collection of organic waste. Eight years later and we still haven't done anything important.
-We do not yet know in which bin they will be disposed of, in which cars they will be collected, where they will be transported and what we will do with them.
-The separate collection of organics (they concern 40% of our waste) is extremely important because by removing the leftovers from Koshi and Pentakomo, these units will be able to operate more efficiently.
Now we have moved on to the next phase in which catering companies will assume their own responsibilities by preparing organic waste management plans, measurements and other actions.
And this is of course not the only problem with waste management, considering that we face huge problems with recycling, which does not cover all of Cyprus and in addition we bury a large percentage (of waste).
In addition, there are many illegal companies that had to pay for the recycling of materials but no one is chasing them, with the result that our statistics are disputed by third parties.
In addition, as a country, we had to have clothes recycling everywhere and we don't have while the recycling of medicines has started, but personally I have not yet seen bins for return.
In addition, the following are pending or need to be managed:
- The arrangements for the greenhouses did not proceed
- Those who import products with a filter such as, for example, cigarettes, had to pay the municipalities for cleaning while they had to be placed in small containers in selected places for cigarette butts, but this did not happen.
- They do not chase importers of e-cigarettes for imposing recycling duties for the fact that they contain a battery and are electronic devices.
- The recycling of electrical and electronic devices is not controlled and large interventions and dismantling of devices are carried out.
- There is a huge problem with illegal hauliers of construction and demolition waste, with many illegal dumps.
- Construction and demolition waste management units are not adequately checked, whether they are legal and how many materials are re-marketed.
- No effort has been made to reduce waste generation, especially in Cypriot industries.
- There is no continuous information as to which materials are recycled and which are not, with the result that a large percentage of materials that end up in recyclers are not recycled.
- We are facing huge problems with residues that end up for incineration.
- The province of Paphos is still burying waste, while the units in Koshi and Pentakomo are in a tragic condition and are burying the waste directly.
- We did not restore the old garbage dumps such as Kotsiatis and Vati, where garbage is still burning.
- We do not chase the illegals with liquid waste that ends up everywhere, most of it in the Polemidia fence.
- "I Pay What I Throw" was supposed to start in 2024 by law and they are still fighting and we ended up being told in the Environment Committee that they will charge citizens multiple amounts instead of having a reduction in costs.
- Since 2004, when we joined the EU, no one has done anything about reuse, which is by law, the second most important action after reduction, in waste management. Sofas, beds, furniture end up in the trash instead of those who need them.
A big problem that we will soon face concerns the changes in packaging and especially the introduction of a guarantee system for single-use beverage packaging. By 1 January 2029, Member States should take the necessary measures to ensure the separate collection of at least 90% per year by weight of single-use plastic beverage bottles with a capacity of up to three litres, and single-use metal beverage containers with a capacity of up to three litres.
To achieve this goal, each country should introduce a system whereby, when the consumer buys a drink, he will pay an additional amount (e.g. 20 cents) which he will get back when he returns the bottle/can.
When such a bill was prepared a few years ago, there was chaos among the interested parties and the government was then forced to abandon it. If the preparation and consultations do not take place now, you can be sure that we will not have such a system in 2029.
