Plastic-free beach opened in Cyprus

Ayia Triada in Paralimni is the first beach in the region to encourage and facilitate the avoidance of single-use plastic with the implementation of a water refill station, a smoking area and extra signs with information on how visitors can help.

The scheme is part of the "Keep Our Sand and Sea Plastic Free" project by The Travel Foundation, the TUI Care Foundation and Cyprus Sustainable Tourism Initiative (CSTI).

Made entirely from plastic waste collected during beach and sea clean ups, "Calypso" the turtle has also been placed in a "prominent" position at the beach to further raise awareness of the issue.

Philippos Drousiotis, chair of the CSTI, said the objective of the scheme is to “eliminate single use plastics from coastal areas starting from Ayia Napa, Protaras and the wider Famagusta region – with particular emphasis on the tourism industry and to reduce plastic pollution of our seas".