Cyprus residents produce more plastic waste per person than any other European Union country, according to a recent Eurostat report.
The study found that Cypriots generate an average of 160 kilograms of plastic waste annually, surpassing the EU average of 150 kilograms.
Researchers attributed the excess to widespread use of single-use plastics in the tourism sector, packaged food services, and limited waste management systems in rural areas.
Pollution has become a daily issue on the island’s beaches, where plastic bottles, straws, bags and cigarette filters are commonly found.
Marine currents in the Mediterranean also carry debris from neighboring countries, worsening the problem.