Households in Cyprus will pay between 150-250 euros annually for the new pay-as-you-throw waste management scheme, Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou told the House Environment Committee on Wednesday.
The cost includes fixed charges and special waste bags, based on local authority viability studies. The scheme aims to reduce Cyprus’s household waste output, which currently ranks highest in volume among EU member states.
Lawmakers emphasised the urgency of implementing the delayed initiative despite concerns over increased costs compared to current household rates. The government has allocated 25 million euros to help local authorities implement the system.
Panayiotou said waste-to-energy options are being examined in an upcoming viability study. She noted that individual consultations with municipalities that have completed their studies are ongoing to ensure flexible implementation.
Committee Chairman Charalambos Theopemptou highlighted that Cyprus has missed the EU’s 2024 target of 50 percent recycling rates, with upcoming targets of 55 percent by 2025 and 70 percent by 2027. He warned of potential EU fines for non-compliance.
Opposition MPs raised concerns about implementation delays and higher costs. AKEL MP Nikos Kettiros cited issues in Aglantzia, where waste volume decreased but surrounding municipalities saw a 40 percent increase in waste, suggesting residents were disposing of waste in neighbouring areas.
The environment ministry maintains that source separation remains the most effective method for waste reduction, despite implementation challenges and cost concerns raised by local authorities. (incyprus)
