The Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development, and the Environment unveiled a plan on Wednesday to tackle illegal landfills and uncontrolled waste disposal.
The plan acknowledges the prevalence of uncontrolled waste disposal sites, highlighting the environmental risks they pose, including soil and groundwater contamination, as well as fire hazards. A recent fire in the Paphos district originating from an illegal landfill underscores the urgency of addressing the problem.
The Ministry outlined a multi-pronged approach to combat illegal waste disposal:
- Cleaning campaign: A two-tiered clean-up programme will target heavily polluted sites for immediate professional intervention this autumn. Milder cases will be addressed by volunteer groups working in collaboration with local authorities, who will play a critical role in identifying dump sites.
- Enhanced inspections and enforcement: The establishment of an Environmental Inspections Sector by year-end is expected to bolster enforcement capabilities and deter illegal activity. This initiative is further supported by a recently signed Memorandum of Cooperation between the Department of the Environment and the Police, which strengthens inspection efforts.
- Landfill closure and restoration: The plan prioritises the closure and restoration of 113 identified uncontrolled waste disposal sites (UWDAS) nationwide. Restoration projects for 19 UWDAS are planned for October 2024, with ongoing efforts at the Kotsiatis and Vatili landfills. The total restoration cost is estimated at €70 million.
- Extended producer responsibility: The “polluter pays” principle will be applied to specific waste streams. This will make producers financially responsible for managing the end-of-life cycle of their products. The plan explores extending producer responsibility to bulky waste and construction and demolition waste.
- Waste management infrastructure development: Establishing a robust network of waste management facilities is another key strategy. This aims to prevent illegal dumping by providing proper disposal options.
- Promoting circular economy practices: The plan also emphasises promoting best practices for utilising recyclable materials from construction and demolition waste.
The clean-up programme is estimated to cost €3 million.
