War of words as recycling deadline looms

With the 2025 deadline for 55 per cent sorting of household waste rapidly approaching, the Environment Department on Saturday defended its actions as the Greens spoke of largescale fraud.

Cyprus Greens MP Charalambos Theopemptou posted a photo on X of a rubbish sorting unit with a caption reading “Scandal in recycling – They are dumping everything at Koshi and saving thousands of euros”.

Theopemptou said in a post that the whole of Cyprus was obliged to sort recyclables and that organic waste was supposed to be collected separately as of January 1.

“In 2025 we must reach 55 per cent recycling and we continue our scams,” he said.

Philenews wrote on Saturday that sorted recyclables collected from households ended up at the Koshi landfill instead of a recycling plant, resulting in a mere 15 per cent recycling of any recyclables from Nicosia, Larnaca and Famagusta.

The Environment Department subsequently issued a statement saying that sorting reached up to 60 per cent, dismissing the press report that was speaking about 15 per cent recycling of the already sorted materials.

The department also said that Green Dot requested to also use Koshi for sorting after a fire destroyed the Ecobalance plant in Geri in July 2023.

The only other licenced unit for PMD is Barracuda in Limassol which only has the capacity to serve Limassol and Paphos.

The department added that recyclable paper packaging is sent to licenced recycling units.

“The aim is to continue sorting the materials so that they can be separated and promoted for management in recycling plants abroad,” the department said.

It added that Green Dot collects 75,000 tonnes of recyclables per year and that fewer than 10,000 tonnes of packaging reach Koshi.

Philenews said the PMD reaching Koshi is sorted and then thrown back into household waste because there is no separate line for these recyclables at the plant.

The arrangement between Green Dot and Koshi expired at the end of June, Philenews said, adding that there appears to be no intention of doing anything about it, with only a new plant in Nicosia expected to alleviate the pressure two years from now at the earliest.

Green Dot was closed for a comment.