AN EXTREME RELIANCE ON LANDFILLS
AN OVERAL LACK OF GREEN INITIATIVES
It has been revealed that Cyprus currently has an extreme reliance on landfills. The island also has one of the lowest municipal recycling rates within the European Union. It has also been identified that the island has an overall lack of green initiatives and is one of the last countries in the European Union without a landfill tax.
A NEW TAX
This has prompted Cypriot authorities to introduce a new landfill tax initiative that also forms part of the island’s new green tax reforms. This new initiative will target municipal waste, forming part of the island’s current recovery and resilience strategy. The new tax starts at €35 and then gradually increases to a maximum of €70 per tonne of waste. The main goal is to align with European Union targets to reduce overall landfill waste. The current levels stand at nearly 60%, and the main aim is to reduce this to just 10% by 2035.
A 10% TARGET
The new Cyprus landfill tax will rise by €5 each year. These rises will continue until the maximum rate of €70 is reached. Once Cyprus meets its 10% target, the levy will then be discontinued. It is intended that revenue from the tax will be used to fund waste management projects and improve waste disposal methods. It is hoped that the tax, which is designed to discourage landfill use, will actively promote more recycling and organic waste separation across the island.
