The Audit Office has uncovered serious lapses by two state departments in supervising the management of construction waste during the building of the new Morphou Police Directorate in Evrychou, according to a new report that raises questions about environmental compliance and government oversight.
The findings show that the contractor not only failed to properly dispose of rubble and mixed waste produced during construction, but also used it illegally to fill a neighbouring plot, which was later asphalted and turned into a parking area.
The report, completed on 16 December 2025 following a complaint received in January 2023, highlights significant omissions by both the Department of Public Works and the Department of Environment, which allowed waste to be buried on-site and effectively concealed under asphalt.
Contractor buried construction waste, turned area into parking lot
The original contract covered the study, construction and 12-year maintenance of the new police complex, located next to the Solea Gymnasium in Evrychou.
The Audit Office’s investigation found that the contractor placed excavation waste, construction and demolition debris (AEKK), as well as other rubbish, in a plot adjacent to the worksite. The project’s waste management plan was described as incomplete and never revised, despite changes proposed by the contractor after signing the contract.
Public Works permitted the company to manage its waste “at the source”, allowing its use as backfill material without conducting any inspection of what the waste actually contained.
According to environmental legislation, a producer of construction waste must either manage the waste directly or participate in a collective waste management system. The contractor stated participation in such a system but failed to implement it, instead proceeding with direct disposal under the approval of Public Works.
The Department of Environment allows reuse of rubble only for backfilling within the construction site, not on adjacent land. In this case, the area where the waste was dumped was eventually asphalted and converted into a parking area, with the consent of the neighbouring landowner. The Environment Department concluded that the site can no longer be restored, partly because pre-existing waste was also found there.
Delayed enforcement and minimal fines
After receiving the original complaint, the Audit Office informed the Environment Department, which is responsible for enforcing waste-management law. However, the investigation remained pending for an extended period.
It was only on 27 October 2025, more than two years after the complaint, that the Environment Department completed its review and imposed a €2,000 fine on the contractor. It justified the relatively low fine by stating that the AEKK waste was not classified as hazardous, and thus did not warrant the maximum penalty of €4,000. The fine was paid on 7 November 2025.
The Audit Office notes that throughout its inquiries it communicated with various departments, including the Ministry of Transport’s Inspection Unit, Public Works, and the Environment Department, with limited response, ultimately identifying failures in oversight and a two-year delay in addressing the issue.
Despite oversight failures, project was otherwise supervised
The report acknowledges that, despite the major lapse regarding waste management, Public Works did carry out systematic supervision of the construction project itself, which delivered a functionally satisfactory building.
Timeline of events
• 14 February 2017: Contract signed
• 28 February 2017 – 28 February 2019: Construction period
• 3 March 2020: Project delivered
• 1 July 2020: Building begins operation
• 30 January 2023: Complaint filed with Audit Office
• 29 May 2023: On-site inspection by Audit Office
• 2 June 2023: Audit Office forwards case to Environment Department
• 27 October 2025: €2,000 fine issued to contractor
• 7 November 2025: Fine paid
The report raises significant concerns about environmental governance in Cyprus, highlighting the need for stricter supervision mechanisms, clearer responsibilities among state agencies, and more robust enforcement to prevent similar incidents.