The Presidential Palace was reworked into the primary authorities constructing of zero waste to landfills in Cyprus and on Tuesday the Presidential backyard was awarded the “Zero Waste to Landfill” certification.
In her greeting at an occasion within the Presidential Gardens on the event of the presentation of the Zero Waste to Landfill certificates for the Presidential Palace, within the presence of the First Woman, Philippa Karseras Christodoulidis and the Commissioner for the Surroundings, Antonia Theodosiou, the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Improvement and Surroundings, Dr. Maria Panagiotou said that they began this motion as a joint initiative with the First Woman, however its achievement couldn’t have been achieved with out the collective effort of each the employees of the Presidency and the co-competent departments but additionally companies that supported this effort.
Nearly a 12 months after we laid the inspiration to realize the bold objective of changing the Presidential Palace into the primary zero-waste authorities constructing in Cyprus, we’ve achieved it, stated the Minister.
“Having the preservation and safety of the surroundings as a precedence of the governance program, changing the Presidential Palace, the place the place the President of the Republic lives and works, as the primary authorities constructing with zero waste in landfills, is sensible proof of symbolism and affirmation of that our precedence is to alter habits in an effort to have a sustainable future” stated Ms. Panagiotou.
Our subsequent objective, the Minister identified, is to realize the verification of “Zero Waste to Landfill” within the buildings of Ministries and Deputy Ministries, and naturally the following authorities constructing can’t be the YGAAP constructing itself.
The success of the initiative, he stated, can’t be primarily based solely on the actions we implement, but additionally on the sustainable practices we undertake each day.
“From refusing to provide waste, decreasing the waste we produce and reusing, to recycling within the office, each step brings us nearer to the nationwide targets of the Municipal Waste Administration Plan 2022-2028 that we’ve set,” he emphasised.
Immediately, the Minister stated, with zero waste we show that if there’s a will to alter habits and mentality, then we will result in a Cyprus freed from unlawful canine kennels.
In her personal welcome, First Woman Philippa Karsera Christodoulidis stated that a few 12 months in the past, right here, in the identical place, we made a promise asserting a really bold objective, to remodel the Presidential Palace and the encircling space right into a constructing with zero waste to landfills .
“We initially began with small steps. The acquisition of bottled water in plastic, which had been obtainable for years at no cost to all employees within the presidency, was abolished and thus some huge cash was saved, fridges have been put in and reusable water bottles got to everybody,” he stated.
He added that bins of all types of recycling have been put in, an environmental nook was created and the most important composter outdoors an industrial constructing and essential work was achieved to scrub and restore the orchard, the tulumba, enriching it with bee-trophic crops, to help each the bee inhabitants, wild pollinators and extra typically of the insect fauna within the space. Synthetic watering holes and nests for mantis, small birds and bats have been additionally put in.
The realm on the facade and surrounding the places of work of the Presidency was additionally upgraded, with enrichment with Cypriot species, flowers, roses, jasmine, geraniums, Cypriot herbs, in order that the presidential workplace has the smells of our Cyprus, stated Ms. Christodoulidis.
“Immediately we’re proud as a result of we grew to become the primary ZERO WASTE authorities constructing, following the spectacular examples of different international locations, and our objective for the Presidency to be a mannequin for the transition to the round economic system and to encourage actions to lift consciousness of the inhabitants in regards to the surroundings has been achieved. Cyprus and the Presidency is Altering. It’s turning into greener, friendlier,” he stated.
Immediately, he emphasised, the Presidential constructing is a Zero Waste constructing with inexperienced and socially helpful plans and actions. “In different phrases, we succeeded in decreasing our waste by greater than 90% and doing full recycling. If we will, then everybody else can too” he concluded.
Apart from, the Surroundings Commissioner Antonia Theodosiou stated that along with the objective of constructing the Presidential Palace a mannequin of environmental administration, in the identical context it was determined to improve the grounds of the Presidential Palace, which was designed in a approach that might play an essential environmental function in addition to an academic instrument from the event of focused actions and actions.
One of many actions, he stated, that was determined to be carried out considerations the restoration of current and/or the development of latest constructions, and stone-paved components on the paths.
“The constructions, these xerolithic soil retaining partitions, are constructed with stones with out the usage of binding mortar. This sustainable constructing method has its roots in historical Cyprus in constructions which can be present in defensive partitions, partitions of monuments but additionally in cobbled flooring and roads”, stated Mrs. Theodosiou.
He said that it’s crucial to attract up a nationwide technique for the dissemination of the method, together with public schooling.
Supply: KYPE
