Cyprus waste management and food waste reduction efforts

Cyprus is currently struggling with waste management, as 76.8% of its waste is sent to landfills. The European Union has set a mandatory target for member states to reduce landfill use to 10% by 2035. To address this, the government is gradually implementing the Pay As You Throw (PAYT) system, which charges households and businesses based on the volume of waste they produce. Despite these regulatory measures, Cyprus continues to report some of the highest per capita food waste levels in Europe. Data indicates that over 50% of food waste in Europe originates from domestic households. To promote sustainable habits, the Life Foodprint project has released an official guide on home composting. This initiative encourages citizens to transform organic waste into fertilizer to lower overall landfill contributions.