The European Commission announced the start of operation of the newly completed Phase II of the Güngör/Koutsoventis solid waste storage facility with an information presentation event on 22 October. The opening speeches of the event were made by Mr. Arttu Makipaa and Mr. Ömer Aydın Köseoğlu. The Phase II of the facility was completed with an approximate investment of €1.9 million. The EU investment aims to further support the Turkish Cypriot community in environmental infrastructure, and more specifically in the waste sector, via its continued investment in the Güngör/Koutsoventis solid waste storage facility. In addition to this, the project aims to increase awareness about EU waste and recycling management policies and good practices in the Turkish Cypriot community. 

The first EU financed project for a solid waste storage facility (Phase I) at Güngör/Koutsoventis, started operation in 2012 with an investment of approximately €3.5 million. The initial design of the facility foresaw a solid waste storage capacity to meet the demands for the Turkish Cypriot community for approximately 10 years, Phase I of which has now reached capacity.

The second EU-financed project for capacity extension, 'Phase II and additional peripheral works', was initiated in January 2018 with an approximate budget of €1.9 million. Work on the waste deposition area (Cell 2) was finalised in September 2018 and is now ready for operation. The completion of Phase II extends the solid waste acceptance capacity for the Turkish Cypriot community until approximately 2030. Current EU investment is continuing at the site, with peripheral works ongoing these due to be completed by December 2018. The peripheral works include leachate management works, landfill gas collection and flaring facility, and temporary covering of the completed landfill Cell 1.

In order for the current facility to provide adequate 'storage' of wastes until the year 2030 for the whole of the Turkish Cypriot community, waste management procedures and most importantly citizens' perceptions will need to develop further. The landfill facility extension currently being inaugurated is one component, which is part of what has become to be known as the circular economy policy. Over time, waste prevention and recycling and application of the polluter pays principle must become the norm rather than the exception.