EU Commission refers Greece and Cyprus to Court over non-compliant waste landfills
The European Commission has sent Greece and Cyprus to the EU Court, citing that 66 of Greece’s waste-treatment sites fail to meet EU landfill standards.
The European Commission has initiated infringement proceedings against Greece and Cyprus for breaching EU waste-management rules. After a 2021 warning and a 2024 reasoned opinion, the Commission concluded that Greece’s sanitary landfills largely fail to meet the 1999/31/EU landfill directive and the 2008/98/EU waste-framework directive, with 66 of 81 sites deemed non-compliant. Cyprus also fell short, with a significant share of its waste sent to landfills without prior treatment.
The Commission argues that both nations lack sufficient processing capacity for mixed municipal waste. Both governments have been given a two-month deadline to respond, after which the cases may be referred to the EU Court for possible sanctions.
Why it matters
Non-compliance could lead to EU Court rulings and financial penalties for Greece and Cyprus, affecting waste-management policies and public health.
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