The pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) waste management scheme is set to start in Aradippou in January 2025 and expand across the island by 2026.
The scheme, which was originally due to launch on 1 July 2024 to meet EU obligations, will require households to use prepaid bags for waste disposal. According to studies, an average household properly implementing the system is expected to use no more than one 56-litre prepaid bag per week.
The Department of Environment, in consultation with the National Technical University of Athens, has set unified nationwide pricing for the prepaid bags: €2.02 for 56-litre bags, €1.26 for 35-litre bags, and €0.36 for 10-litre bags.
Local authorities will not collect waste in unauthorised bags. Inspectors appointed by local authorities will monitor compliance, initially issuing warnings before moving to fines for non-compliance. For apartment buildings, communication will be made through management committees.
The scheme includes a fixed annual fee of approximately €80 per household during the initial implementation years, comprising 40% of total waste charges, with the prepaid bags accounting for the remaining 60%.
Prepaid bags will be available at designated locations including local authority buildings, supermarkets, petrol stations, vending machines, and public spaces.
The programme has secured €25 million in funding through the EU-supported “THALIA 2021-2027” Cohesion Policy Programme to assist local authorities with implementation.
Aradippou municipality, including the communities of Troulloi, Kellia, and Kochi, will serve as a pilot project. The scheme began organic waste collection on 1 November 2024 and will be fully implemented from 1 January 2025.
Implementation will expand to 12 municipalities and nine community clusters in 2025, followed by seven municipalities and 21 community clusters in 2026. Nicosia district municipalities are scheduled to begin implementation by mid-2025, with Nicosia, Strovolos, and Kouris municipalities starting by late 2025.
The Department of Environment attributes implementation delays to several factors, including procurement challenges, differences in municipal billing systems, local government reform complications, and financial constraints among some local authorities.
The system aims to support source separation of waste, including organic kitchen waste, garden waste, paper, glass, plastics, metals, textiles, electronic equipment, batteries, and bulky waste, to reduce landfill disposal.
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