Parliament has rejected a government proposal for a landfill tax on municipal waste, a decision that highlights ongoing concerns about Cyprus’ waste management infrastructure.
- Parliament has rejected a government proposal for a landfill tax on municipal waste, a decision that highlights ongoing concerns about Cyprus' waste management infrastructure.
The proposal, which aimed to introduce a tax of €10 per tonne on waste sent to landfill, was defeated by a vote of 26 to 19. MPs from Disy and Diko supported the measure, while Akel, Elam, Alma, and Direct Democracy opposed it. The tax was set to increase by €5 per tonne each year until reaching €70 per tonne by 2038.
The government framed the landfill tax as a crucial part of Cyprus’ green tax reform, aiming to reduce the current landfill rate of 68 per cent to the European Union target of 10 per cent by 2035. However, some MPs argued that households should not face additional financial burdens without the necessary waste management infrastructure and an effective recycling system in place.
During the parliamentary debate, criticisms were aimed at previous governments for failing to establish the required facilities to support modern waste management. Linos Papayiannis, chairman of the environment committee and an MP from Elam, stated that Cyprus continues to depend on landfills without having created the necessary infrastructure. Yiannis Laouris from Direct Democracy labelled the proposal as “sketchy and incomplete”, pointing out the absence of a comprehensive long-term strategy.
Odysseas Michaelides, president of Alma, expressed concerns over the apparent collapse of the national waste strategy. He highlighted the ongoing operation of the Kosi waste management facility, which has seen repeated contract extensions, as a significant issue. Michaelides argued that the proposed tax would unfairly impact citizens regardless of their efforts to reduce waste or recycle.
Akel MP Nikos Kettiros referred to the proposed levy as a “government incompetence tax”, asserting that the measure would not prevent continued waste disposal in landfills. Meanwhile, Disy MP Andreas Constantinou suggested that a “Pay as You Throw” scheme should have been established prior to introducing any landfill tax. Parliamentary spokesman Demetris Demetriou echoed this sentiment, emphasising the failures in the country’s overall waste management.
Despite reservations, Disy and Diko supported the proposal, expressing concerns that rejecting it could jeopardise vital European funding for future waste management initiatives. Following the vote, the agriculture ministry described the outcome as “a particularly negative development”, warning that the rejection would hinder the release of €23 million in funding intended for local authorities’ waste management projects.
The ministry indicated that, along with national co-financing, the total funding would have reached approximately €48 million. It noted that the government had already reduced the proposed landfill charge from €35 to €10 per tonne, postponed its introduction, and secured additional funding for municipalities.
While the ministry reiterated that the vote against the proposal does not nullify the government’s plans, it called on those who opposed the measure to clarify why they had deprived the country of vital European funding. The debate over the landfill tax reflects broader issues within Cyprus’ waste management strategy, raising questions about the balance between environmental initiatives and the practical realities faced by citizens.
