Cyprus to introduce pay-as-you-throw waste charges in 2027: a bag will cost €1–2

Cyprus will begin transitioning to a “Pay as You Throw” system in 2027: residents will pay for the collection of mixed waste based on volume rather than a fixed tariff. This was announced by Elena Stylianopoulou, Deputy Director of the Department of Environment.

The system will be introduced gradually and on a pilot basis. Waste will have to be separated into three streams: plastic, metal and drinks containers (PMD), paper and cardboard, and mixed waste. Organic waste will not be collected separately at the first stage.

Special prepaid bags are already being used in Aglantzia. A large bag costs €2, while a smaller one costs around €1. The annual cost for a family of four that sorts its waste is estimated at approximately €90. A fixed charge for cleaning public spaces will be added to this amount.

Lockable containers will be installed in apartment buildings, with access available only to residents using a key. The authorities hope this will prevent people from throwing regular bags into communal bins.

Andreas Viras, president of the Union of Municipalities, said that municipalities are not yet ready for the launch. Equipment needs to be purchased, inspectors hired, municipal legislation amended and new tariffs approved. According to him, the system must be introduced simultaneously across Cyprus: when it is launched only in selected areas, residents start taking their waste to neighbouring districts.

At the end of August, the Union of Municipalities called the proposed deadlines unrealistic and demanded that annual state support be increased from €117 million to €170 million. The final amount residents will pay will depend on the size of the state subsidy: according to local authorities’ estimates, household costs could range from €150 to €250 per year.