Communities across Cyprus are identifying illegal dumping sites to be included in a third nationwide clean-up campaign after the Cabinet approved an additional €1 million in funding on 16 July.
The initiative is being coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, district administrations and community authorities.
The deadline for community clusters to submit details of illegal dumping sites within their boundaries, together with estimates of the cost of clearing them, expires on Friday.
Concern over wildfires
Andreas Kitromilides, president of the Cyprus Communities Association, told Politis that a working group comprising representatives of the association, the Department of Environment and district administrations will meet on Monday to assess the submissions and finalise the list of sites eligible for financial support.
Funding will be allocated according to the level of risk and the urgency of intervention, with priority given to areas vulnerable to wildfires.
Kitromilides said the €1 million allocation would not be enough to cover the clean-up of every illegal dumping site, but each community would receive funding towards part of the required costs.
Under existing legislation, responsibility for identifying and clearing illegal dumping sites lies with local authorities. However, after many authorities cited financial constraints, the government decided for a third consecutive year to provide financial assistance, recognising that the prompt removal of illegally dumped waste is essential for protecting the environment, safeguarding public health and reducing wildfire risks.
850 illegal dumping sites
The funding will be used by community service clusters and community councils to clear illegal dumping sites identified by the relevant authorities, with priority given to areas facing an increased fire risk.
According to the Fire Service, there are around 850 illegal dumping sites across Cyprus, which continue to pose a significant challenge for wildfire prevention and response efforts.
The latest allocation follows government funding of €1,001,550.65 in 2024 and €1,219,586.35 in 2025 under the #WasteFreeCyprus campaign, bringing total funding for illegal dump clearance since 2024 to more than €3.22 million.
The additional €1 million is separate from the €4.16 million already approved for 2026 to support wildfire prevention measures in communities.
Additional funding
The funding comes from savings of €500,000 each from the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment and the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works. The funds will be transferred to the Ministry of the Interior, which will distribute them through district administrations to community service clusters and community councils.
The programme will finance the removal of illegally dumped waste, including mixed construction and demolition waste, bulky items and other discarded materials, as well as any necessary restoration work at affected sites.
District administrations will approve all or part of the requested funding, depending on available resources. Community authorities will then tender and carry out the clean-up works, after which the Department of Environment will conduct final on-site inspections before the remaining financial support is released.
The Cabinet has also authorised the finance minister to secure additional funding, in line with public finance procedures, if the €1 million allocation proves insufficient to meet demand.
