Cyprus Forum

At Cyprus Forum Cities, Kyriacos Xydias, Mayor of Amathounta, raised concerns about the practical challenges of implementing waste management policy, particularly in relation to organic waste.
He questioned the readiness of existing infrastructure and highlighted the absence of sufficient organic waste management facilities, noting that municipalities have been waiting for clear national guidance on where and how to direct collected waste streams.

He also emphasised the financial strain on local authorities, pointing out that municipalities are often required to cover significant costs such as waste management fees, while being tasked with implementing source separation without the necessary system-wide planning and support.

At Cyprus Forum Cities, Charalambos Theopemptou, Chair of the Environment Committee of the House of Representatives of Cyprus, emphasised the importance of waste management policy focused on separation at source as the most effective approach.

He noted that both EU directives and Cypriot legislation have long supported household-level separation of organic waste, but that this approach was not fully implemented in practice. Instead, he pointed to past policy choices favouring centralised mechanical sorting facilities, which he described as problematic and ineffective.

He also highlighted that Cyprus continues to face legal challenges at EU level over waste management compliance, stressing that earlier and more consistent implementation of source separation could have significantly improved outcomes.

At Cyprus Forum Cities, Dr. Tedd Moya Mose, Senior Executive Consultant at Morphosis Group, highlighted the practical challenges of developing biogas as an energy solution within a circular economy framework.

He explained that biogas cannot be treated like other renewable energy sources such as solar or wind, as it depends on complex value chains involving waste collection, proper separation, and feedstock availability - areas that are often underdeveloped in practice.

He stressed that successful biogas systems require multiple revenue streams beyond electricity generation, reflecting the broader economic and operational realities of managing organic waste effectively.

At Cyprus Forum Cities, Christos Zannettou, Mayor of Ayia Napa, highlighted the unique structure of the Free Famagusta District, which operates with two municipalities and one provincial local government organisation.

He emphasised the strong cooperation between the municipalities and the district organisation, while also pointing to the challenges of building new administrative structures in an area that previously lacked unified water, sewage, and urban planning authorities.
He noted that the rapid expansion of the organisation required significant staffing and training efforts, creating additional financial pressures for residents, but stressed that close collaboration continues to help overcome these challenges.