Nicosia Municipality Clarifies Garbage Collection Fees

The Municipality of Nicosia has issued clarifications regarding the imposition of garbage collection fees for uninhabited properties. According to the Municipality, this decision is neither theft nor an unfair charge to citizens.

The reasons for the decision, as stated by the Municipality, are twofold: Firstly, due to the large number of uninhabited properties in Nicosia (over 1,000), it is practically impossible for garbage truck crews to know which properties are uninhabited at any given time. Secondly, taxing dormant property serves as a disincentive to maintaining uninhabited residential properties, helping to address the housing crisis.

The Municipality states that it provides garbage collection services to all properties, regardless of occupancy, and recovers the cost through fees. A discount is provided if the property is uninhabited and the volume of garbage is zero.

Regarding the cost, the Municipality considers the annual garbage collection fees (€187 or €206) not excessive, given that collection takes place more than 104 times a year. It is also noted that broad discount criteria have been adopted for citizens facing financial difficulties.

The Municipality of Nicosia aims to reduce the deficit resulting from the merger of the four municipalities, as well as to improve the provided cleaning service. It also expresses concern about the upcoming implementation of the "Pay as You Throw" (PAYT) system and the potential increase in costs for citizens.

The Mayor of Nicosia participates in a working group of the Union of Municipalities, which has raised these issues with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.