Regular visitors and residents in the Paphos area of Cyprus should start to notice cleaner looking neighbourhoods following the launch of an innovative website that pinpoints illegal rubbish dumps.

Launched by Rosen Innovation Ltd, www.dumpmap.org enables contributors to upload shots and detail locations of dumps of garbage in illegal spots. “This is an independent venture so far but we hope that different organisations that share our values to keep Cyprus clean will join us,” said site co-founder, Anders Rosen, who has lived in Chloraka for five years. “To date 45 illegal dump sites have been uploaded on to the site, mostly in Paphos. Most of these are on roadsides and in ravines.”

A noted dumping site can be added by enlarging a map of Cyprus and clicking on it while zoomed in. You then add a description plus contact details, which remain confidential, and the process of adding and highlighting details about the illegal tip begins.

“It is very easy to upload a picture on the site that you have taken with an ordinary camera. On the whole, the site is working very well. We are now testing an application for IPhone and other smart phones,” added Rosen. “The aim is to kick start a community or official clean up of pinpointed sites. This year Cyprus will be taking up the reins of the EU presidency. It is time to get serious about cleaning up. Do we want them to call Cyprus the island of love or the island of garbage?”

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