District local government organisations face challenges managing Cyprus waste collection network

During a session of the Parliamentary Environment Committee on October 21, 2026, the Nicosia District Local Government Organisation (DLGO) criticized the state for long-standing deficiencies in national waste infrastructure. DLGO president Constantinos Yiorkadjis argued that the burden of national planning is being unfairly shifted onto local authorities, which currently operate eight green points in Nicosia at an annual cost of nearly one million euros. These authorities are paying twice because they must maintain their own unlicensed sites due to delays in building an adequate national network.

A significant dispute has emerged in the Famagusta district, where four new green points remain closed. The Famagusta DLGO refuses to operate them, citing fears that local municipalities will fail to pay their required share of operating costs. While the Interior Ministry proposed deducting these costs from state grants to municipal councils, the impasse threatens EU co-funding for the projects. Current data shows only 28 of the planned 67 green points are active nationwide.

To improve financial viability, authorities are now considering allowing professionals to dispose of waste at these sites for a fee, provided they meet specific regulatory conditions. The Ministry of Agriculture supports exploring this for businesses but firmly opposes charging private citizens, who currently use the facilities for free.