Brussels:Cyprus and Greece have been referred to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to comply with the Landfill Directive and the Waste Framework Directive, as announced by the European Commission on Thursday.

According to Cyprus News Agency, the Landfill Directive mandates standards for landfill sites to prevent negative impacts on human health and the environment. It requires that waste undergo treatment before disposal in landfills. The Waste Framework Directive aims to minimize waste generation and mandates that waste management should not harm human health or the environment, prohibiting uncontrolled waste disposal.

In December 2021, Cyprus received a letter of formal notice, followed by a reasoned opinion in December 2024, regarding its failure to treat waste adequately before landfilling and its lack of an integrated waste management network utilizing the best available techniques. An analysis of the Cypriot authorities' response and data indicated that 21% of waste generated in Cyprus is landfilled without prior treatment.

The European Commission also determined that both Cyprus and Greece lack sufficient capacity in their waste treatment facilities to manage mixed municipal waste before it reaches landfills. The Commission criticized the efforts by both nations to rectify these issues as inadequate, prompting the referral to the EU Court.