A RECYCLING project for the collection of household packaging across five municipalities in Nicosia and Limassol has been launched, in an effort to cover the needs of 125,000 people.
The project comes in the wake of strict EU requirements, specifically on packaging and packaging waste.
A private company named Green Dot has launched the project in Cyprus with their responsibility being to recover and recycle all packaging materials they place into the local market. The company’s primary objective is to undertake collectively and on behalf of 220 companies.
Green Dot plans to collect recyclable materials using the same method as rubbish collectors. A day will be designated for the collection and the public will use the same method they use when disposing of their refuse.
General Manager of Green Dot, Kyriacos Parpounas, says his company is the only licensed collective packaging management system on the island. He says their plan is a carefully thought out and productive one.
“It is designed in a way that we believe will be productive. Our programme is a parallel one to that of the government and is an indefinite one. At the moment the government plan to end their programme in two years.”
Initially, the project will cover Strovolos Municipality in Nicosia along with the Limassol Municipalities of Yermasoyia, Ayios Athanassios, Mesa Yitonia and Kato Polemidia.
Collections are due to begin in January and will cover materials including glass, paper, plastic and metal.
For planning purposes, experience from other European countries has been combined with local conditions in Cyprus.
Parpounas said he hopes to add another 200,000 residents to the scheme by the end of next year, with the project due to be launched in Paphos and Larnaca in 2008.
“We will be providing people with special bags in which they will be able to dispose of their waste,” he said. “Where glass is concerned, special bins will be placed in every participating neighbourhood which can serve the needs of 500 people.”
He also said that the private sector is currently constructing two sorting plants in Nicosia and Limassol for the further sorting of materials.
“Any system can only work if people use it,” Parpounas said. “We need people to change their way of thinking and embrace the system as it will undoubtedly improve our quality of life and that of our children’s.”
n For more information visit: www.greendot.com.cy
