Excessive Litter on Cyprus

On Cyprus, it is difficult to drive along a road or walk a trail without encountering a plastic bottle, an old bag, or a faded tin can. Trash has become part of the landscape — almost as familiar as pine trees and rocks.

For first-time visitors to the island, especially from countries where public cleanliness and waste recycling have long been part of the culture, the contrast is striking. Plastic cups in the forest, illegal dumps, litter along the roads — these are not accidents, but a symptom of a deep problem. Cyprus still lacks environmental awareness. People are used to seeing nature as a backdrop for life, not as a living system for which everyone bears responsibility.

One reason people litter is historical. For many decades, Cypriots lived in a rural culture where most waste was organic. Everything was naturally recycled: food became animal feed, branches and leaves were used as fuel. The modern “plastic civilization” arrived too quickly, but habits remained the same.

Another reason is the lack of understanding of consequences. No one feels that a bottle thrown by the roadside actually causes harm. It does not bother anyone right now — neither you nor your neighbor. The awareness that every small action shapes the overall appearance of the country is still underdeveloped in Cyprus.

Finally, there is a lack of infrastructure. Trash bins and sorting containers are often hard to find, especially outside cities. But even where they exist, not everyone uses them properly.

Every few months, Cypriot NGOs and volunteers organize cleanup campaigns for beaches, mountain trails, and roadside areas. These initiatives unite people and set a good example, but remain reactive measures. Without changing behavior culture, no cleanup will help: tomorrow, new bottles and bags will appear in the same place.

Solving the problem requires not only cleaning but also preventive measures — fines, educational campaigns, and the development of sorting and recycling infrastructure. Cyprus deserves to be clean. For now, plastic waste is carried by the wind through groves, settles on the shores, and poisons the soil.