CYPRIOTS Danes and the Irish produce the most waste per capita in the whole European Union, while the Czechs, Poles and Slovaks the least, data from the EU's statistics office showed yesterday.
Eurostat said one Dane produced on average 802 kg of municipal waste in 2008, the highest rate in the 27-nation bloc. Cypriots generated 770 kg of waste on average – 10 kilos per person more than the average American - and the Irish 733 kg.
However the data also showed that even though Danes produce more waste, Denmark burned 54 per cent of its waste, recycled a further 24 per cent and composted 18 per cent, putting only 4 per cent of it into landfills.
Cyprus, however, stowed 87 per cent of the rubbish in landfills and recycled only the remaining 13 per cent, compared to 48 per cent in Germany – the top country for recycling in the EU.
The island was in sixth highest position when it came to landfill dumping. But taking into account the fact that the other countries ahead of Cyprus - five eastern European states - only produce half the amount of rubbish per person, the situation changes.
The Czechs produced 306 kilos of rubbish per capita, the Poles 320 kilos and the Slovaks 328 kilos.
The figures leave Cyprus clearly in the landfill lead along with Malta, which although produces 100 kilos per person less, throws 97 per cent on landfills and recycles only three per cent.
Environment Commissioner Charalambos Theopemptou said yesterday the difference between Cyprus and Denmark when it came to the waste issue was that the latter had efficient system to dispose of it. “This is the difference. It’s what you do with the waste after you produce it,” he said.
“Other countries have policies to cut waste, strict checks strict recycling laws. Not anyone who wants is allowed to dump waste.
He said that in other countries companies, supermarkets and others who produce a lot of waste are not allowed to dump them in landfills. They are forced to take them for recycling.
“They are very strict,” he said. “We have landfills and we dump whatever we want.”
Last week DISY deputy Kyriacos Hadjiyiannis described Cyprus as an “open landfill” during a House
Environment Committee.
Chairman Andreas Fakontis said 113 landfills are currently in operation across Cyprus and there was absolutely no policy for scaling back the production of refuse. He said no measures are taken to cut waste and save money by having smaller waste processing units.
He also said abandoned landfills were one of the most serious environmental problems in Cyprus. “While they are closed, they continue to be sources of pollution; the ground continues to be contaminated; the aquifers; toxic substances are produced and foul smell,” Fakontis said.
Fakontis added that people continue to dump rubbish in these landfills illegally.
The House wants inspectors who will be responsible to penalise those who dump waste illegally by imposing a substantial on-the-spot fine.
Fakontis said the government has given its okay but these ‘green’ inspectors have not been appointed yet.
The committee said it would send a letter to Interior Minister Neoclis Sylikiotis in a bid to expedite the procedure and tackle the problem.
I am very willing to recycle but there are NO recycle bins in my neighbourhood. And I don't always have the time to drive to the city centre for recycling. I believe that the government should place recycle bins everywhere in Larnaca. Just like in Germany!
Photo Credit - Cyprus Mail
If the US was in the running for this "honor", we would be "King of the Hill". There is so much waste in my country.
Posted by: Faith Barndt | March 21, 2010 at 03:15 AM
We have to be somewhere in the top list!!!:):)
Posted by: Philip | March 21, 2010 at 07:46 AM
I agree with Theopemptou - it's what you do with the waste after you produce it. In Cyprus things are are as clear as daylight. Anyone can dump their waste in landfills!! The government should not only place recycling bins in every single neighbourhood but they must also pass strict laws on recycling. I can only see recycle bins only outside certain supermarkets and in some central parts of the town. And another thing. Gatbage collectors won't pick up rubbish which is not placed in special plastic bags. If I run out of garbage bags and use another - like supermarket bags which are also enviromentally friendly, they will remain in the bin for ages. The only solution, of course, is to go to the nearest landfill and dump them!
Posted by: Lakis Ioannou | March 21, 2010 at 08:46 AM
Ohhh! That's pretty horrific!
I think the US actually exports a large portion of its garbage, especially computer parts and old technology.
And YES recycling should be well organized by the government. We all need to participate or we'll be buried in garbage!
Posted by: Bobbin Talk | March 21, 2010 at 10:49 PM
The bottom line is how we deal with that waste. Cyprus - a tiny country in the eastern Med produces more waste than the average American!
Posted by: Anastasia | March 21, 2010 at 11:52 PM
Ah right!!!
Posted by: Anastasia | March 21, 2010 at 11:53 PM
I disagree, Lakis. This is certainly NOT the ONLY solution...or maybe it's the easy solution. I don't blame you - not when there are no strict laws on recycling and on WHO can use landfill dumping! Please correct me if I'm wrong, but anyone in Cyprus can dump their garbage in landfills!
Posted by: Anastasia | March 21, 2010 at 11:58 PM
Definitely! We all need to participate but how can we do that in Cyprus if the government doesn't really help? How? First by raising awareness and then by placing recycle bins near our homes!
Posted by: Anastasia | March 22, 2010 at 12:03 AM
Switzerland is proud of its recycling efforts, and with good reason. Glass and paper are just some of the things the average Swiss refuses to simply throw away.
There are bottle banks at every supermarket, with separate slots for clear, green and brown glass. Every town has a free paper collection once a month, and that does not mean just old newspapers; most people recycle everything made of cardboard or paper, from cereal packets to old telephone bills.
Then there is green waste. If you have a garden, all the trimmings can be put out on the street (neatly bundled of course) every two weeks, and they will be collected.
Aluminium and tin can be taken to local depots, batteries handed over at the supermarket, and old oil or other chemicals deposited at special sites.
Plastic PET bottles are the most common drinks containers in Switzerland, and 80% of them are recycled - far higher than the European average of 20 to 40%.
But the Swiss do not recycle just because they care about the environment. There is a strong financial incentive. Recycling is free, but in most parts of Switzerland throwing away rubbish costs money - each rubbish bag has to have a sticker on it, and each sticker costs at least 2.50 CHF (about one euro)
So the less you throw out, the less you pay. No sticker? Then the rubbish will be left outside your house to rot.
Posted by: Andreas | March 22, 2010 at 12:22 AM
I was very surprised not to see Greece figuring at the top of this list!!! I am very sorry to say that we also have a serious problem in Athens (and generally in Greece) on disposing waste - especially when the garbage collectors are on strike!
However, most of our waste is the result of tourism as visitors to Greece from the so-called civilised European countries, which know so well how to recycle their own waste, treat my country as a kind of ...landfill.
The everpresence of plastic water bottles, plastic and paper packaging on the beaches, in the sea and streams and on the roads of Greece, is all too apparent to visitors, many of whom are part the problem. Here are some of the ways in which foreign visitors to Greece can help diminish this blight on the environment:
1. Carry a water thermos with you and fill it wherever taps with spring water are present instead of buying water bottled in plastic. Or buy a glass bottle of spring water and refill the bottle from the taps. Many towns have them, and one need only ask around.
2. Ask at restaurants and tavernas for a 'karafa' (carafe) or 'kanata' (same thing) of water and glasses instead of the bottled water automatically brought otherwise by the waiters/waitresses. If worried about the water quality, ask around locally beforehand if the local water is safe. Tap water is safe in Greece! Tourist office employees will tell you the truth, as they have no stake in lying. Ask them if they drink it themselves. If they do, and there are also no spring water taps, refill your glass bottle or water thermos with the local public water.
3. Dispose of all garbage in garbage bins wherever you are. Carry plastic bags with you for your own garbage just in case no bins are available, and report the lack of garbage bins to the local mayor. If enough tourists complain, things might just change for the better.
4.When you walk along a beach or stream, carry some bags in your day pack and pick up gargage when you see it if at all possible.(Am I exaggerating?) You can have an effect on both other foreign tourists and on local Greeks by being seen picking up garbage to take away with you for proper disposal in bins.
5. Never throw garbage of any kind into the sea, and if you see people doing this from a boat, write down the name of the boat and a desciption of it, and report the incident to local authorities. Happily, there are some laws restricting such acts, far more than on land.
I don't say that us Greeks are not responsible for our waste as it is in our nature to buy more than we need and throw away the rest. What I hate most is to see foreign visitors litter my country while they claim preserving their own environment.
Posted by: Christina | March 22, 2010 at 12:55 AM
I think that in Cyprus we tend to buy more than we need and as a result too much waste piles up. I agree that the government should create more recycling outlets and make stricter laws about dumping waste, but we must also learn to control our waste and keep it low.
Posted by: Stefania | March 22, 2010 at 08:55 PM
What everybody here says about rubbish is true.
1 we need to introduce policies to minimise waste
2 we need to educate people
3 we need to force the private sector who is by law! responsible to introduce recycling facilities to do so in every type of waste, construction and demolition waste, tyres, electrical goods and packaging in particular
4 we need to police better the countryside and prevent people from dumping stuff all over the place
5 we need to introduce a law by which we will be able to force citizens to recycle
6 we need to rethink how we charge and how we implement refuge collection eg. it might be by weight!
7 we need to campaign against excessive packaging in products we buy
There are so many things we need to do but as in many other environmental issues, these are not high in the priority list
Posted by: Theopemptou | April 03, 2010 at 01:15 PM
Thank you very much for your very constructive comment on my page. Surely, there are a lot of things to do. I personally believe that creating awareness is a very good start but we also need stricter laws on dumping waste and, yes, I'd be very happy to see a law forcing citizens to recycle. But we first need to have recycle facilities in our neighbourhoods. Most importantly, we should all learn to respect our environment and keep it clean.
Posted by: Anastasia | April 03, 2010 at 01:39 PM