Frustrated, MPs left the House Committee on the House Committee to accept the Department of the Environment for the inability to apply the law on the management of waste from excavations, constructions and demolitions. In a discussion on Wednesday they listened carefully to the department’s plans to overthrow the image, which, among other things, include the utilization of 177 local government inspectors, even the guards, the recruitment of technology and the creation of green points in each community. In the end, however, a number of MPs left open the possibility of legislative initiatives to treat the problem.
No registration numbers – threats to retaliation
In the early stages of the debate, two examples of the committee members were capable of capturing the large dimension that has now taken on the problem of illegal rejects of the particular waste chain against the inability of the state to intervene. Stressing that to date it has not worked to the extent that the legislation should have, AKEL MP Nikos Ketiros, said that they came close to him “allegations very worrying, even for the involvement of people who are in illegality”. Specifically, he referred to illegal discharges of demolition materials from vehicles without registration numbers in areas within the administrative boundaries of a specific municipality in Limassol province. “The information I have at least is that they are rejecting materials from demolitions, without anyone daring to approach them,” he said, to convey the information that the deputy mayor of the area has repeatedly appealed and makes complaints, but, as he typically said, “a voice in the wilderness”. As he pointed out, he does not expect an inspection officer to take on the burden of responsibility and to put them with people who do not hesitate in front of punishment, but, as he noted, “there must be a state in this place at last.”
It is noteworthy that at a later stage of the debate on the issue of illegal rejection, the representative of the Pancyprian Association of Professional Earthwriters said that the skeptics threaten daily with retaliation who becomes a witness to their illegality. Mr Xeni cited his own case as an example, when he stopped marking the car numbers to give them to the municipality concerned. Then, as he said, the person who was illegally threatened to destroy his machinery, with the result, as Mr Xeni confessed, to tear the glue where he was pointing out.
They filled ‘camp’ with rubble
The complaint of DIKO MP Chrysanthos Savvidis, who said the former camp of the 356th Infantry Order in Chrysochous, was filled with mountains of rubble, resulting in residents in the surrounding houses. This complaint was also confirmed by EOA spokesman Paphos, responding to Mr Savvidis that no permission was given to convert the former camp into a rejection site.
A joint assumption of all those involved attending the Environment Committee meeting on Wednesday was the huge problem of supervision and inspection, with Cyprus to become a vast field of illegal rejection today, where the problem is presented as Lerna Hydra.
Assumption of weaknesses
For his part, the Director of the Department of the Environment, Theodoulos Mesimeris, acknowledged that there were weaknesses for implementing the legislation at the level of controls. He attributed these difficulties mainly to the rise of illegality. At the same time, he referred to realities that have to overcome, such as the inability to cover 24 hours a day and seven days a week the full range of illegal rejects.
Mr Mesimeris stressed that the inspectors sector has only 13 people (two per province), which makes it significantly difficult to effectively enforce the legislation. He said efforts were being made to strengthen staffing, and there is cooperation with the police on the project of the audits. In fact, he stressed the utilization of the inspectors of Local authorities. As he explained, the Department trained 177 Communities Inspectors, who began sending out to the department. Their appointment was the prerequisite for joining the Communities in the Pancyprian Cleaning Campaign and to receive funding from the Department. He also referred to the efforts to increase the green points (one in each community, on the proposal of the Communities of Cyprus) and the private waste management units. For the budget of 2026, adopting the recommendation of the Local Government Authorities, they are promoting, he said, to make a green spot in every community.
Guardian recruitment, because the savvy “strike” after 15.00
He talked about the problem of dealing with the problem, which began to be implemented since last February through a comprehensive control approach, the results of which he will send a note to the House. The design includes the strengthening of inspectors, he said. In this effort they want to integrate all the bodies that can help. In addition to local government inspectors and the police, they have already launched a discussion of the issue and to integrate other bodies, such as the Hunting and Fauna Service, in hours that can provide information, because, as he said, “realities are such that no one will go.”
They also study what other countries are doing. He cited the case of Greece, where the Environmental Police was set up, for checks that are currently called upon to respond to environmental inspectors. In relation to the amount of the fines, he said that the Department of the Environment, where it can impose a maximum fine of 20,000 euros, because, as he pointed out, the message must be given that illegality is not permitted.
Is there support from the Ministry of Finance?
Members wondered whether the Treasury intends to turn on green light to strengthen the Department of Environment with tools and mainly staff, in view of the new budget submitted by the Ministry of Agriculture in the near future. Specifically, the Chairman of the Environment Committee, Charalambos Theopbbou raised the issue of increasing the number of inspectors of the department. In his statements after the meeting he said that “they are waiting to see the budget, how many people will increase the number of inspectors”, explaining that this was the main role of the meeting, as the competent departments and bodies of the state should take action. “We are waiting for appointments, not only by the Local Government but also by the Department of the Environment and the District Self -Government Organizations, and we are expecting to change shape and increase the green points so that they can manage them,” he added.
Lerna Hydra
A joint assumption of all those involved in the meeting was the huge problem of supervision and inspection, with Cyprus to become a vast field of illegal rejection today, where the problem is presented as Lerna Hydra. Indicatively, the approach of the representative of the Cyprus Association of Excavations, Construction and Demolition Managers (AEKK), and President of the Pan -European Quarter Association, Antonis Latourou, was nilistic. He even gave examples from abroad. “Part of the problem is the illegal loading squares. There the rubbish ends from the buildings, there is a temporary sorting, and then it is unknown where they end up. If they are licensed, as it sounds, it will cause a serious problem because traceability will be lost, “he said. At the same time, he informed that today the prices charged by AEKK waste management units per skip ranges from 20 euros, if the waste is separated, up to 100 euros, if mixed. In European countries, such as in Switzerland where he visited units, they never get a scrap with mixed, because, as he explained, then the charge is 500 euros per skip. He noted that overseas one meets five or six scapers in front of each building, with materials separated so that they do not end up mixed in the unit. It is worth noting that Mr Latourou’s report on a charge of 20 euros has created reactions from professionals involved in the rejection chain, who challenged this minimum billing price.