On Thursday, the Council of Ministers approved €1 million in emergency financial aid for municipalities to clean up sites of uncontrolled waste dumping, following a joint proposal by the Ministers of Agriculture, Rural Development, and the Environment; the Interior; and Transportation, Communications, and Public Works.

According to a joint announcement by the three ministries on Friday, the funding is intended to protect the environment and public health, as well as to strengthen fire prevention by removing illegally dumped waste.

As stated in the announcement, although responsibility for identifying and cleaning up illegal waste dumping sites lies, under current legislation, with local authorities, the Government continues to provide them with financial support for the third consecutive year, recognizing that the immediate removal of waste is a critical prerequisite for protecting the environment, public health, and preventing fires.

It should also be noted that in 2024, €1,001.550.65 was allocated in 2024 and €1,219,586.35 in 2025 for the cleanup of illegal waste dumping sites as part of the #WasteFreeCyprus campaign.

With this new allocation of €1 million, the total financial support granted since 2024 now amounts to €3,221,137.

The new funding will be allocated to Community Service Clusters and Community Councils for the cleanup of sites designated by the competent authorities, with priority given to areas at increased risk of wildfires.

At the same time, it is clarified that the emergency funding of €1 million is in addition to the €4.16 million that the Government has already approved for 2026 as part of fire prevention measures in communities, further strengthening efforts to protect the natural environment and human life.

Source: CNA