Waste Management in Cyprus: A Practical Guide

How waste management works in Cyprus

Municipal waste collection in Cyprus is run at the local level by municipalities and community councils, while national policy and licensing of landfill, recycling, and hazardous waste sit with the Department of Environment under the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment. Packaging waste is handled primarily through the Green Dot Cyprus (Πράσινο Σημείο) collective scheme, which operates curbside bins and "Green Point" drop-off centres around the island.

Cyprus has historically relied heavily on landfilling, but new integrated waste management facilities in Pentakomo (Limassol), Koshi (Larnaca/Nicosia), and Paphos now process mixed municipal waste, recover recyclables, and produce refuse-derived fuel. EU targets push the country toward separate collection and significantly higher recycling rates by 2030.

Where to recycle

There are four main channels for separating recyclables:

• Curbside bins (PMD, paper, glass). Most municipalities provide dedicated bins or bags through Green Dot Cyprus. PMD (plastic, metal, drink cartons) goes in one stream; paper and cardboard in another; glass usually has standalone igloo bins.
• Green Points (Πράσινα Σημεία). Municipal drop-off centres for bulky items, electronics, batteries, used oils, garden waste, construction debris, and textiles. Operated by larger municipalities including Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos, and Aradippou.
• WEEE and battery take-back. Electronics retailers must accept old equipment under the WEEE scheme (run by AFIS Cyprus and WEEE Electrocyclosis Cyprus). Battery collection boxes are common in supermarkets.
• Glass and oil collection. Cooking oil and glass have dedicated collection networks; check your municipality's website for the nearest point.

How to report illegal dumping

Illegal dumping — fly-tipping, abandoned construction debris, burned tyres, roadside bags — is one of Cyprus' most visible pollution problems. You have several ways to report it:

1. Your municipality or community council. The first stop for household-scale dumping inside town limits. Most have an online complaint form or a sanitation hotline.
2. Department of Environment. For larger sites, hazardous waste, or repeat offenders, file a complaint with the national department (moa.gov.cy/environment). They have enforcement powers and can coordinate with the Game and Fauna Service or Forestry Department when dumping affects protected areas.
3. Police (199 / 112). Use for dumping you witness in progress, or when a vehicle / licence plate is visible.
4. Toxora. Pin the location on our map with a photo so other residents, journalists, and activists can see the pattern over time. Spots marked as cleaned move into the history view, which is useful evidence when lobbying for better collection.

When you report, include a photo, a precise location (a pinned map link works best), the approximate volume, and any hazardous material visible (asbestos, chemicals, medical waste).

Hazardous and special waste

• Construction & demolition waste. Must go to a licensed C&D facility — not roadside or empty plots. Contractors are legally responsible.
• Asbestos. Handled only by licensed contractors; report any suspected dumping immediately.
• Used tyres, batteries, oils. Covered by producer responsibility schemes — return to retailers or Green Points, never burn.
• Medical and pharmaceutical waste. Pharmacies accept expired medication; clinics handle sharps.

Practical tips for residents

• Rinse PMD packaging before binning — contamination is the main reason recyclables get rejected.
• Flatten cardboard. Bin space is the scarcest resource in Cypriot recycling.
• Keep glass separate. It damages sorting equipment when mixed with PMD.
• For bulky waste, book a free municipal pickup instead of leaving it next to bins.
• If a bin is overflowing for more than a day, report it — it is the single biggest cause of secondary dumping.

For activists and community groups

Cleanup campaigns work best when paired with data. Map the spots you clean, photograph before and after, and keep the history — it turns a single volunteer day into a record local authorities can act on. Toxora's history view is designed for exactly this: pick a date and see which spots existed then, which were cleaned, and which keep coming back.

Partner organisations active in Cyprus include Friends of the Earth Cyprus, Akti Project and Research Centre, Terra Cypria, and local municipal volunteer programmes that run beach and forest cleanups year-round.

Useful links

• Department of Environment
• Green Dot Cyprus
• AFIS Cyprus (batteries)
• WEEE Electrocyclosis Cyprus