Newsroom
You can clean up an illegal dumping site in the morning, only to find it full of rubbish again before lunchtime.
That's the frustrating reality facing municipalities across Cyprus, according to the president of the Union of Cyprus Municipalities, Andreas Vyras, who says the fight against illegal dumping has become a never-ending battle.
Speaking to CNA, Vyras said municipal waste services work continuously to clear illegal rubbish sites but described the problem as a "Lernaean Hydra"—a mythical monster that grows two new heads every time one is cut off.
In other words, every illegal dumping site that disappears seems to be replaced by another.
A problem that never goes away
According to Vyras, the biggest obstacle isn't a lack of clean-up efforts but a mindset that continues to fuel the problem.
"A large number of people still behave as though every public space is a rubbish dump," he said.
He believes Cyprus needs stronger legislation and tougher penalties that genuinely discourage illegal dumping.
A fire risk hiding in plain sight
While illegal dumping is a year-round problem, it becomes especially dangerous during the summer, when piles of discarded furniture, plastics, wood and other waste can easily become fuel for wildfires.
With Cyprus already facing extreme temperatures and an elevated fire risk, Vyras warned that these illegal rubbish sites are more than just an eyesore, they can become dangerous ignition points.
Clean today, dirty tomorrow
Municipal workers often find themselves trapped in a cycle that feels impossible to break.
"We might clean a park at 9 a.m., and by 10:30 it's as if no one had been there," Vyras said.
He added that some people even dump rubbish directly underneath signs warning against illegal disposal.
"It's something every municipality deals with every single day," he said.
Could municipal police make a difference?
Vyras believes one solution could be the long-discussed creation of a municipal police force.
Unlike municipal health officers, dedicated municipal police officers would have the authority to investigate cases, visit suspected offenders, collect evidence, and obtain warrants where necessary.
He said this would send a much stronger message that illegal dumping carries real consequences.
Funding remains the biggest hurdle
Plans for a municipal police service have already progressed, with responsibilities, powers and draft legislation largely agreed upon.
The biggest obstacle now, Vyras said, is funding.
"The thorny issue, as always, is who will pay for the municipal police," he said.
Until that question is answered, municipalities say they will continue doing what they have always done: cleaning up the same illegal dumping sites over and over again, hoping that one day the public's attitude towards littering finally changes.
