Aglandjia residents were left baffled last week as they witnessed an extraordinary rubbish collection effort by a Nicosia municipality crew. The crew was seen driving through local neighbourhoods, collecting both purple rubbish bags filled with household waste and bags containing recyclables, all tossed into the same lorry.
Photo: cyprus-mail.com
The lorry, equipped with a mechanical gripper, grabbed all types of rubbish without differentiation. This careless method raised eyebrows among the locals, who expressed their concerns to the Cyprus Mail. Many described the operation as “sloppy,” noting that the crew left behind plastic bottles that eventually rolled into the busy street, raising safety concerns.
Photo: cyprus-mail.com
Residents were quick to question the efficacy of their recycling efforts, feeling disheartened by the municipality’s apparent disregard for proper waste management. One resident voiced their scepticism, stating, “I very much doubt if the rubbish will be sorted later.” Another raised a pertinent issue regarding the ethics of the current system, pointing out the €100 fee charged to residents for a bundle of purple bags, asking rhetorically, “when really anything would do?”
As the complaints mounted, it became clear that many in Aglandjia felt frustrated not only by the rubbish collection process but also by the associated costs. The van accompanying the rubbish lorry bore the Nicosia municipality logo, indicating official involvement in the operation. This further fueled residents’ disappointment, as they believed that the municipality should be setting a better example in waste management.
This isn’t the first time Aglandjia residents have expressed discontent regarding waste collection. Last year, many voiced their frustrations over the necessity to pay €100 to acquire a limited number of prepaid mauve bags from municipal offices, rather than being able to purchase them from supermarkets. The municipality defended this fee, claiming it encompassed not just the bags but also “other important cleanliness services offered by the municipality,” such as cleaning pavements and roads.
The recent incident has reignited concerns among residents about the municipality’s commitment to effective waste management and recycling. As they continue to grapple with the implications of these collection practices, many are left wondering about the future of their community’s waste disposal system.
