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A new fee on garbage that could eventually affect household waste costs has turned into the latest political battleground in Cyprus, with the government and DISY trading accusations over who is responsible for the way the reform is being introduced.
The landfill fee is a charge placed on waste sent to landfills, meaning that dumping garbage instead of recycling or treating it in other ways will come with a cost.
The aim is to encourage better waste management, reduce the amount of garbage Cyprus buries in the ground, and bring the country closer to European Union environmental targets.
But while the idea behind the fee is widely accepted, the way it is being introduced has sparked a heated dispute between the government and the opposition.
DISY says the government moved forward without proper planning, enough consultation, or the necessary waste infrastructure in place, leaving Parliament facing a difficult decision at the last minute.
The party argues that Cyprus should not introduce another charge before ensuring there are enough recycling facilities and waste management systems available.
The government, however, says DISY is now criticizing a reform it previously supported.
The Ministry of Agriculture said the landfill fee was not a decision of the current administration but was included in Cyprus’ Recovery and Resilience Plan in 2021, with DISY’s support at the time.
It also pointed out that the “Pay As You Throw” system, where people pay according to how much waste they produce, was also promoted and voted for by DISY.
“Criticism is legitimate, but political amnesia is not,” the ministry said, accusing DISY of distancing itself from policies it had previously backed.
From €35 to €10 per ton
The government said earlier proposals would have resulted in a landfill fee of around €35 per ton, while previous plans from 2023 could have pushed the cost even higher.
After consultations with European experts through JASPERS and the European Commission, the government said it managed to reduce the planned fee to €10 per ton.
Officials estimate that this would amount to less than €1 per month for an average household.
However, DISY argues that the issue is not only the amount of the fee but whether Cyprus is prepared to introduce it.
The party says the government should have ensured that the necessary infrastructure was ready before moving ahead, warning that poor planning could eventually place a heavier financial burden on citizens.
Why this matters to households
For many Cypriots, the political arguments come down to a simple question: Will the new fee actually improve the way Cyprus handles garbage, or will it become another cost for families without solving the waste problem?
Cyprus has struggled for years with waste management challenges, including heavy reliance on landfills and delays in developing more modern recycling and treatment systems.
The government insists the reform is part of a long-term solution. DISY says the country is being asked to pay before it is ready.
As Parliament debates the issue, the landfill fee has become less about garbage and more about who is responsible for fixing a problem that has been building for years.
