THERE were calls for urgent action yesterday, after some 50 animal carcasses were found dumped at the Avdellero-Athienou landfill site.
This is apparently not the first time this has happened, with workers at the rubbish dump saying this was not an unusual sight. According to Avdellero Council, carcasses are normally dumped on Thursdays, the day when animals are taken to slaughter. Animals judged unfit for consumption are discarded in the landfill.
The horrific sight was witnessed yesterday by the members of the media as well as Green Party member Athos Agapitos, after they had been called to the area by the leader of the Avdellero community.
Agapitos told the Mail yesterday that this incident was not unique to the Avdellero dump and called for greater security at landfill sites across the island.
“This happens in many other landfill sites all over Cyprus, I saw similar awful scenes at the Paleometocho and Persephanou dumps last year. There is legislation in place which states that all dead animals should be taken to the incineration site in Kofinou. Now for no apparent reason, there are plenty of people that do not comply with these laws,” he said.
Agapitos warned of the health risks such irresponsible action could bring about.
“There were all sorts of dead animals at the site, chickens, sheep and even dogs. This is a serious health hazard. Given that there are many live animals such as stray dogs and cats in the nearby area, they could contract diseases from the carcasses. With these communities being so small, diseases could easily be spread in the area,” he added.
Avdellero Community leader Antonis Mousikos said yesterday the situation could not continue, especially since a site for the incineration of the carcasses existed at the Kofinou abattoir.
“The only viable solution is none other than the cremation of the carcasses and the other rubbish located at the landfill. This situation needs to be addressed immediately”, he said.
The Avdellero-Athienou landfill is set to close as soon as the main Larnaca landfill site is built. The creation of such an area, where all the rubbish from Larnaca will be transferred, was agreed on in 2000, but has yet to be completed.
Athienou Mayor Spyros Papouis explained how they planned to clean up the mess which had been caused, refusing, however, to blame the butchers and animal breeders of his community.
“The picture we are witnessing is terrifying. We will bury the dead animals on Saturday, while at the same time we want to enforce the rules for such cases so that we can locate and arrest the butchers and animal breeders responsible. I am certain, however, that this was not something that the breeders or butchers of Athienou can be blamed for,” he said.
Agapitos called upon the Health Services to increase their checks at all landfill sites. “The Health Department must be stricter and check these areas much more frequently. There is currently nobody checking the landfill sites and people can throw anything they want without thinking,” he said.
This issue of security at landfill sites was raised when an Indian man died in an explosion at the Kotsiatis rubbish dump two weeks ago. The man had entered the dump along with his 65-year-old Cypriot employer in order to dispose of a batch of percussion capsules. The man was hurled 40 metres by the blast and died instantly.
