Kadis says green point almost complete at Avgorou

The agriculture ministry said on Thursday the creation of a green point in Avgorou was almost complete and that Sotira and Dherynia were next in line, following complaints by the leaders of both communities over an upsurge in fly-tipping at Paralimni lake.

After photos emerged the previous day showing large pieces of trash including couches, bookshelves, and electrical appliances dumped near the Natura 2000 protected site, Agriculture Minister Costas Kadis said he believes that the establishment of additional green points in the wider area of the lake “will help mitigate the problem”.

His comments followed complaints by the mayors of Dherynia and Sotira who said on Wednesday that the reason locals secretly throw trash in the lake at night is because there is no place to recycle bulky waste.

Kadis said that entry points to the lake have been closed and trash has been thrown outside the protected area among the limits of the three municipalities of Paralimni, Sotira and Dherynia.

“It may be difficult for one municipality to control where the garbage is coming from and to take measures for the situation that is created,” the minister said in his statements to the Cyprus News Agency.

In a bid to stamp out fly-tipping, the agriculture ministry appointed inspectors from different municipalities who undergone training and are authorised to issue fines.

Moreover, the minister said he will launch an awareness campaign to inform and sensitise the public.

“The root of the problem is the lack of awareness of some citizens and our intention is within the current year to organise a very large awareness campaign, which will be accompanied by garbage collection from sensitive areas, such as Paralimni lake,” he said.

The minister along with the relevant services and representatives of the nearby communities are expected to visit the lake once conditions allow “to see how we can collaborate to finally bring the issue in order”.

According to Kadis, fly-tipping is a common problem of many other areas as well.

Cyprus Greens posted a video of illegal garbage disposal on the side of the closed road towards Vati village in Limassol. The party tweeted that residents of the area “have lost their patience” highlighting the long-standing issue.

The minute-long clip shows old pieces of furniture such as metal and wooden parts, couches, mattresses dumped in both sides of the road.

Individuals caught dumping waste illegally will be warned by the inspector to move them before a certain date, or else they will be fined €200. If they fail to comply with the instructions, they will receive an additional fine of €400.