Cyprus parliamentary committee examines failure in municipal waste management

The Cyprus Parliamentary Committee on Oversight convened on September 17, 2026, to address the island's persistent failure to establish adequate waste management infrastructure. With 65% of municipal waste still being sent to landfills, the country faces potential heavy financial penalties from the European Court of Justice. The European Commission issued a formal warning in July 2026 due to Cyprus's failure to meet recycling targets set in 2024, placing the nation at risk of significant daily fines similar to past precedents in other member states.

Costas Constantinou, Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture’s Environment Department, noted that current recycling rates stand at only 16%, far below the required levels. To address the immediate crisis, the state is advancing interim solutions for the OEDA Kosiis and Pentakomo facilities, with a total projected investment of €162 million—€100 million for an upgrade at Kosiis to extend its lifespan by seven to nine years and €62 million for Pentakomo.

Looking ahead, officials stated that while interim interventions are underway, long-term decisions regarding the national waste strategy are expected by 2028. The ultimate goal is to comply with EU directives, which require recycling to reach 90% and landfilling to be reduced to below 10% by 2035.