Waste Reporting Guidelines | Cyprus Waste Map

📸 Upload Guidelines

Help keep Cyprus clean! Follow these guidelines when reporting waste to ensure the platform remains effective and trustworthy.

How to Upload

Use the upload box on the homepage map. Select a photo, choose a waste category, add an optional comment, and hit submit. Please use the tool responsibly – avoid spamming or uploading unrelated content.

What to Report

Focus on actionable waste issues like: illegal dumpsites, large piles of garbage bags, construction debris in nature, significantly overflowing public bins, or substantial roadside heaps.

Small Litter: While important, a single can or small pieces of litter are usually best handled directly by community cleanups, not via this mapping tool.

Marking Reports as Resolved

If you notice that a waste site you previously reported has been cleaned up, please help keep the map accurate by marking the report as 'Resolved'.

You should find this option in the "My Reports" section (available when logged in). Marking a report as resolved removes it from the active map view, helping focus attention on remaining issues.

Location Data

Accurate location is essential for reports. Ideally, use photos that contain GPS metadata. Ensure location services/GPS are enabled before taking the photo with your phone's Camera app.

Why GPS might be missing: Some mobile browsers or methods of selecting photos (like taking one directly via the browser upload or sharing from certain galleries) can strip GPS data for privacy. Using your phone's Camera app and then selecting the photo from your Library/Gallery usually preserves the location.

If GPS is Missing: Don't worry! If the system cannot detect GPS data in your uploaded photo, a map will appear after you click "Submit Report". Simply drag the red pin to the exact location where you saw the waste, or click directly on the map to move the pin. You can also enter the coordinates with your keyboard. Zoom in for accuracy! Once placed, click "Confirm Location". Please pin responsibly within Cyprus land boundaries.

Best Practice for Phone Uploads

For the highest chance of including GPS data automatically: 1. Enable Location/GPS on your phone. 2. Use your phone's Camera App to take the photo. 3. Go to the website and use the upload button to choose the photo from your Library/Gallery. If GPS is still missing, use the manual pinning map when prompted.

🎥 Demo: Recommended phone upload method

Image Verification & Quality

We use automated checks (AI) to verify that uploads appear to show waste and are taken within Cyprus (if GPS is present). This system isn't flawless. If your valid report is mistakenly rejected, please contact us.

Clarity is crucial: Avoid blurry, very dark, or excessively zoomed-in photos. Capture the context of the waste.
Respect Privacy: Avoid photographing identifiable people, license plates, or inside private property boundaries.