Strovolos municipality, the second largest in Cyprus after Limassol, with a population of over 60,000 inhabitants, has managed to significantly reduce the volume of its household waste mainly because of recycle and other actions.
Mayor of Strovolos Lazaros Savvides, in an interview with CNA, on the occasion of the Municipality`s candidacy for European competition for the Green Leaf award, said that the town`s household waste end up at Kotsiatis landfill on the outskirts of Nicosia. The landfill also receives huge quantities of old furniture, mattresses, carpets and other types of garbage collected mainly from plots.
Liquid waste, waste explosives, corrosive, oxidizing and flammable material, tyres, electrical / electronic devices, animal waste and construction waste are not allowed at the landfill.
“It is estimated that, with regard to household waste, approximately 140.000-150.000 tons annually were being disposed at the landfill. For other types of waste, the quantities were 250.000-300.000 cubic tons per year, based on 2013 estimations“ the Mayor told CNA. He pointed out however that these quantities are significantly reduced because people recycle and because various types of waste are now being diverted to other management units.
The municipality cooperates with Green Dot (Cyprus) Ltd and special bins have been placed all over Strovolos for the recycle of plastic and glass. Recycle materials are collected from houses once a week.
“Our citizens can find useful information on recycle programs and collection sites, on the municipality`s website. We encourage people to recycle, not only plastic and paper, but also electric and electronic devices as well as batteries. We work together with the company Weee Electrocyclosis Cyprus Ltd and Afis Cyprus Ltd and we also encourage compost programs“, the mayor said.
In 2013, Strovolos collected 772.403 kgs of PMD (11.43 per citizen), 1.067.167 kgs of paper (15.79 percitizen) and 240.837 of glass (3.56 per citizen).
In 2014, the quantities of PMD collected were 783.750kgs (11.60 per citizen), 1.025.598 kgs of paper (15.18) per citizen and 210.860 kgs of glass (3.12 per citizen).
Green Leaf Competition
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The European Green Leaf (EGL) competition is open to all towns and cities across Europe with 20,000 – 100,000 inhabitants.
The competition recognises a city’s commitment to better environmental outcome. The scheme has a particular focus on efforts that generate green growth and new jobs.
The objectives of the European Green Leaf are:
-To recognise cities that demonstrate a good environmental record and commitment to generating green growth;
-To encourage cities to actively develop citizens’ environmental awareness and involvement;
-To identify cities able to act as a ‘green ambassador’ and to encourage other cities to progress towards a better sustainability outcomes.
The candidate cities (Aosta, Italy, Cornellà de Llobregat, Spain, Galway, Ireland,Kardzhali, Bulgaria, La Roche-sur-Yon, France, Mikkeli, Finland, Orbassano, Italy, San, Miniato, Italy, Serres, Greece, Strovolos, Cyprus ) will present their proposals and projects in June and the award will be given during a ceremony in Ljubljana, Slovenia, the Green Capital for 2016.
The Committee that will assess the proposals comprises representatives from the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Committee of the Regions, the European Environment Agency, the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI), of the Covenant of Mayors Office and the European Environmental Bureau.
This is the second time Strovolos participates in the competition.
“This is an opportunity for us to present our achievements in terms of green policy. We are making efforts to adopt green and sustainable policies. Green growth is a one-way street for local authorities“, the mayor said.
Since 2009, Strovolos participates in the Covenant of Mayors and in 2013 it was presented with European Energy Award (European Energy Award (eea®) given to Mediterranean countries.
Strovolos Municipality is also implementing the Action Plan for Energy Efficiency 2010-2020 aiming to reduce Co2 emissions by 2020 to 342.000 tons from 507.000 as well as the energy savings from 1238.800 to 1190.900 MWh.
Savvides told CNA that the town also participates in various programmes like the ELIHMED, which relates to Energy Efficiency in households with low family income in the Mediterranean, funded by the European Regional Development Fund.
The Municipality of Strovolos has also received an Honorary Distinction for the renovation and construction of low-energy buildings, for its Cultural Center.
CNA/KCH/MM/2016
ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY