📸 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.
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 that will appear below your username. Marking a report as resolved removes it from the active map view, helping focus attention on remaining issues.
Location Data is Key
Photos must contain GPS metadata to be placed on the map. Ensure location services/GPS are enabled before taking the photo on your phone. Uploads without location data may be rejected.
Upload with Your Phone
You can easily report waste using your smartphone. However, taking a photo directly through the website upload button often doesn't work correctly. This is because most web browsers remove the necessary GPS location data from these photos for privacy reasons.
The Solution: First, open your phone's standard Camera app. Make sure your phone's location services (GPS) are enabled before you take the picture. Then, visit the Cyprus Waste Map website and use the upload button to select that photo from your phone's photo library/gallery. This ensures the location is included!
🎥 Demo: Reporting waste using your phone
Image Verification
We use automated checks to verify that uploads appear to show waste. This system isn't flawless. If your valid report is mistakenly rejected, please contact us via the About page.
Best Practices
- Clarity is crucial: Avoid blurry, very dark, or excessively zoomed-in photos. Capture the context of the waste.
- Upload Method: Uploading from a desktop or laptop often provides a better experience for previewing images.
- Respect Privacy: Avoid photographing identifiable people, license plates, or inside private property boundaries unless absolutely necessary and done discreetly.