Cyprus municipalities oppose proposed waste landfill tax

The Union of Cyprus Municipalities has expressed strong opposition to a government proposal to introduce a waste landfill tax. Kyriakos Xydias, the Mayor of Amathounta and head of the municipal waste working group, stated that the Ministry of Agriculture intends to submit the proposal to the Cabinet. The tax is reportedly a prerequisite for securing €23 million from the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility. The proposed levy starts at €10 per ton and is expected to increase annually. Municipalities argue that the state is shifting the financial burden of its own infrastructure failures onto citizens. Specifically, Xydias highlighted that the state-managed Pentakomo plant currently buries 80% of waste, far exceeding the 20% target. Local authorities claim they lack the necessary infrastructure for effective source separation. As a result, municipalities warned that the tax will inevitably lead to higher waste management bills for residents.