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The Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment announced plans to move forward with developing a comprehensive network of municipal waste management facilities, including upgrades to the Pentakomo and Kosi Environmental Management Units (OEDA).
In a statement Wednesday, the ministry said waste management is a top government priority and emphasized a commitment to addressing the issue through a holistic approach aligned with the principles of a circular economy.
The ministry also addressed recent concerns related to the sorting and disposal of packaging waste, which falls under the responsibility of the collective system Green Dot Cyprus. It said the Department of Environment has issued strict directives to the organization to immediately resolve collection issues and ensure the continuous pickup of separately collected packaging waste. The department also formally reminded Green Dot that energy recovery from such waste is prohibited.
The ministry said Green Dot must urgently identify disposal solutions, either by utilizing licensed facilities within Cyprus or exporting the waste abroad for proper treatment.
More broadly, the ministry said it plans to upgrade existing OEDA units so they can handle both mixed municipal waste and separately collected organic waste. It also highlighted progress toward ending the disposal of untreated waste at the Paphos landfill and improving the management of organic waste in the district.
A feasibility study has already been commissioned to assess whether current infrastructure meets Cyprus’s needs, to determine the necessity for new facilities in each district, and to evaluate the potential for energy recovery from processed residual waste.
In addition, tenders have been announced for consultancy services to inspect and assess equipment at the Kosi OEDA unit and the Skarinou Waste Transfer Station. The services will also evaluate the facilities’ performance as part of the handover process. Other tenders cover the preparation of documents for contracting the operation, maintenance, and partial upgrades of OEDA and WTS sites in the Limassol district.
In the interim, the ministry is seeking to support the Contracting Authority and appoint an accredited consulting engineer to update and expand a previously conducted evaluation of the OEDA and WTS facilities in Limassol. That includes preparing a detailed cost estimate for the maintenance, repair, or replacement of the units’ electromechanical equipment.
The ministry said the Department of Environment continues to monitor the situation and is taking the necessary steps to ensure uninterrupted collection and disposal of packaging waste in line with current laws. The goal, it said, is the responsible management of packaging waste and the transition to a circular economy, in accordance with the Packaging and Packaging Waste Law of 2002 to 2022 and related regulations.
