Cyprus Incineration Norms and Authorities (2025)

Incineration Norms

• Cyprus, as of 2025, does not have municipal or hazardous waste incineration plants and does not operate any large-scale waste-to-energy incineration facilities.
• Waste management policy is oriented towards separate collection, mechanical-biological treatment (MBT), recycling, and minimizing landfill dependency.
• Waste suitable for recycling or recovery is prohibited from being landfilled by national regulation, except when no better environmental option exists.
• No taxes are currently applied directly to waste incineration, as there is no incineration capacity. However, landfill taxes and bans are planned and may influence waste management trends.
• For shipboard/incidental waste incineration, Cyprus applies MARPOL Annex VI and restricts incineration to comply with port and marine safety rules.

Governing and Monitoring Authorities

• Department of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development & Environment: Leads national policy, legislation, and permitting for all waste management (including oversight of MBT plants).
• District Boards for Municipal Waste Disposal & Recovery: Supervise local public waste sites and MBT facilities in each district.
• Local Authorities (municipalities and community councils): In charge of municipal waste collection, some treatment contracts, and implementation of separate collection and recycling.
• The Water Development Department supervises Green Points, MBT, and landfill programs.

Key Legislation & Standards

• Waste Management Strategy and Waste Prevention Programme: Sets national targets for recycling, prevention, and progressive landfill bans.
• Waste Laws Amendment 152(I)/2021: Expands local authority roles and enforcement for source separation and management.
• EU Industrial Emissions Directive (IED, 2010/75/EU): Would set emission standards if incinerators were built in the future.
• Regulations for Shipboard Incineration (MARPOL Annex VI): Applied for vessels in Cypriot waters.

Cyprus does not currently operate municipal waste incineration plants, and its regulatory system is focused on waste prevention, separate collection, and mechanical-biological treatment, with competent authorities led by the national Department of Environment.