Eurostat: Municipal waste increase in Cyprus, country still behind on recycling

The production of municipal waste in Cyprus increased by 3.5% to 673 kg per person in 2022 compared to 2021, above the EU average (513kg), while decreasing on the EU level during the same period, according to the latest data released by Eurostat, the statistical service of the European Union.

Cyprus was also the country with the fourth smallest amount of waste recycled per person (100 kg), significantly lower than the EU average (249 kg).

According to provisional data for Cyprus, the amount of municipal waste produced in Cyprus increased from 650 kg per person in 2021 to 673 kg per person in 2022, an increase of 23 kg or 3.5%.

At the EU level, the amount of municipal waste decreased from 532 kg per person in 2021 to 513 kg per person in 2022, a decrease of 19 kg or 3.5%.

Compared to 1995, the production of municipal waste in Cyprus increased by 78 kg (from 595 kg, an increase of 13.1%), while in the EU the production increased by 46 kg (from 467 kg, an increase of 9.9%).

Municipal waste generation varied considerably among the EU members. In 2022, Austrian (827 kg per person), Danish (787 kg), and Luxembourgish (720 kg) citizens generated the highest amount of municipal waste.

The lowest amount was generated in Romania (301 kg), Poland (364 kg), and Estonia (373 kg).

According to Eurostat, the variations across countries reflect differences in consumption patterns, economic wealth, and the collection and management of municipal waste.

Countries differ regarding how much waste from commerce, trade, and administration is collected and managed together with the waste from households.

In terms of recycling, the EU registered an average of 249 kg per person in 2022, down from the 2021 average of 264 kg per person. This number had been steadily increasing since 1995, when the EU average was estimated by Eurostat to have been at 88 kg per person.

Provisional data for Cyprus show 100 kg of recycling per person in 2022, which marks an increase compared to 2021 (91 kg), but still lower than 2019 when the number had reached its highest point (113 kg) before dropping slightly in 2020 to 107 kg. Cyprus was also the country with the fourth smallest amount of recycling recorded in 2022.

Recycling in Cyprus increased gradually from 1995 to 2019, from 0 kg in 1995 and 17 kg per person in 1996.

Austria (516 kg), Denmark (411 kg), and Germany (409 kg) had the highest amount of recycled waste per person. On the other hand, Romania (36 kg), Malta (75 kg), and Greece (90 kg) had the lowest amount.

(Source: CNA)