Cyprus parliamentary committee reviews proposed landfill tax legislation

The Cypriot Parliamentary Environment Committee is currently debating a bill to introduce a landfill tax as part of the country’s green tax reform. This initiative is a requirement under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, which Cyprus committed to in 2021 to access over €1 billion in European Commission funding. Approval of the regulations, including penalties for non-compliance, must be secured by August 31 to prevent the loss of €23 million in funds. Current data from the Department of Environment shows that 68 per cent of household waste in Cyprus is sent to landfills. The tax aims to support the European goal of reducing municipal waste landfilling to 10 per cent by 2035. While the measure is tied to Recovery and Resilience Mechanism funding, officials noted there is no specific obligation to harmonize this tax with existing European legislation. The House of Representatives must pass the legislation before the summer recess, with a broader project milestone set for June 30, 2026.