Description

In Cyprus, domestic solid waste collection is the responsibility of the Local Authorities and is disposed of in places of various degrees of environmental suitability. Incoming waste is disposed of mainly in uncontrolled dumps or in partially-controlled areas. There are seven official sites in Cyprus for waste disposal and, with the exception of the Paphos sanitary landfill, none of these sites completely conform with the European Union directive on landfill of waste, 99/31/EC.

In Paphos region, after the beginning of the operation of the Sanitary Landfill, the uncontrolled landfills, closed and partially covered with soil. The following deficiencies have been noticed:

• lack of hydraulic insulation of the bottom layer and the slopes;
• lack of leachate management systems;
• lack of biogas management systems;
• lack of flood and fire protection measures;
• lack of fencing, visual isolation and environmental monitoring systems.

These deficiencies increase environmental risk and may drive to serious impacts to the environment such as:

• groundwater degradation;
• odours;
• fire probability;
• endanger to public hygiene

Proper closure and rehabilitation of such sites falls under the responsibility of Cyprus to implement according to the relevant commitments as well as to article 16 of 99/31/EU Directive, up to year 2010.