Two cases have now been brought before the Court of Justice. EU member states are obligated to promote reuse, but Cyprus remains far behind in this respect. While other countries are making progress, the share of recycled household waste on the island has remained particularly low. According to the European Commission, this backlog poses a serious threat to the environment.
Cyprus has already received warnings about its inadequate waste policy. Brussels believes these signals have had insufficient effect. Since no significant improvements have yet been made, the case has been forwarded to the EU Court.
The first case focuses on the structural shortcomings in the national waste management. Cyprus allegedly does not ensure sufficient separation of waste streams, which leads to higher landfill rates. The second case concerns the failure to adopt policies that truly stimulate and facilitate recycling.
Data shows that the volume of municipal waste in Cyprus has increased, while reuse has barely risen. Unlike other EU countries, where waste quantities are stabilizing or declining, Cyprus is showing the opposite trend. The Commission states this is a result of pending policy decisions and insufficient government oversight.
A recent audit within the Ministry of Agriculture revealed additional shortcomings. According to the Commission, those findings reinforce the impression that Cyprus gives insufficient priority to environmental protection and waste management. This increases the risk of further environmental damage, which could affect not only the island itself but also the wider region.