Newsroom
Cyprus is taking a bold step toward cutting household waste with a new “Pay-As-You-Throw” (ΠΟΠ) program set to launch in 2027, aiming to make trash disposal fairer while boosting recycling, Environment Minister Maria Panayiotou said Wednesday.
Speaking after a Cabinet meeting at the Presidential Palace, Panayiotou explained that landfill fees, which were reduced from €35 to €10, will gradually rise by €5 from 2028 through 2039. The gradual increase is designed to give authorities time to expand small-scale and source-separated waste treatment facilities, while local councils prepare and implement recycling and waste separation programs under the ΠΟΠ system.
“For a household, the estimated annual cost for waste without ΠΟΠ will reach about €10.60 by 2027,” the minister said. “With ΠΟΠ in place, that burden drops significantly, to between roughly €2.54 and €6.76 per household.” She stressed that the government’s goal is clear: the new fees should not be passed on to citizens.
Local authorities will receive a total of €46 million from the ΠΟΠ program, half of it coming from the approved landfill tax, a critical milestone under the country’s Recovery and Resilience Plan. Distribution of €48 million for separate waste collection will begin in 2026, depending on progress with each council’s action plan.
Panayiotou acknowledged that some challenges remain, including finalizing action plans and upgrading waste facility infrastructure. The government has commissioned a special study to ensure upgrades are done correctly, avoiding mistakes of the past like those seen at Pentakomo.
“This is more than a technical adjustment,” the minister said. “It’s a decisive step toward a new era of waste management, reducing volume, improving recycling, protecting the environment, and ensuring a fair transition without burdening citizens.”
She added that the ΠΟΠ legislation is ready, and the program will be implemented according to each local authority’s plan. While early challenges are expected, the aim is to reduce waste volumes through separate collection, with the gradual €5 increase in fees tied to the success of the program rather than directly translating into higher costs for households.
