Several organised beaches in Larnaka region are regular recipients of the coveted EU ‘Blue Flag’ award that recognises the highest standards in cleanliness, water quality, safety and services.
Look out for the recognisable flag flying on awarded beaches.
Yiannades (Goldfish) Beach is Larnaka’s first ‘plastic free beach’, encouraging a more sustainable experience for beachgoers via an ethos of 'refuse, reuse and recycle' as part of LTB’s ongoing sustainability and coastal protection plans.
Supported by LTB, the action by the Cyprus Sustainable Tourism Initiative (CSTI) and TUI Care Foundation is in cooperation with Voroklini Community Council and part of the ‘Keep our Sand and Sea Plastic Free, Destination Zero Plastic in Cyprus’ project, supported by the Deputy Ministry of Tourism (DMT).
Smokers are encouraged to dispose of their cigarette ends in the designated area with ashtrays and not in the sand. Aside from taking many years to decompose, cigarette ends also contain microplastics that end up in the sea, harming marine life and entering our food chain.
To avoid plastic bottles, a water station has been set up for filling reusable bottles or cups with free, filtered drinking water; with the added benefit of all-day access to refreshingly chilled water on a hot day!
Popular Yiannades is located along the Voroklini coastline of Larnaka-Dekeleia Road, and is one of the region’s beaches that is already annually upgraded under the ‘Greening and Enriching Larnaka Beaches’ programme that includes sustainable actions such as increased tree planting. It is also within the Larnaka Marine Protected Area (MPA) that incorporates an artificial reef for the enhancement of biodiversity.
Various recycling options are available at beaches, including the municipality’s underground (submerged) recycling bins that form part of the large-scale ‘Rethink – Reduce – Reuse – Recycle’ project aimed at helping large industries to properly separate waste.
During the summer months, additional projects are launched, including a fish-shaped structure ‘recyclefish’ that serves as a giant collection point for plastic bottles and other items.
Regular beach and sea cleaning campaigns are also held by volunteer groups from various organisations, including clubs, associations and Larnaka-based companies, as well as under the umbrella of related EU environmental programmes and campaigns.
The innovative project ran for three summer seasons (2017, 2018, 2019) on several, popular organised beaches, and was highly successful in encouraging beachgoers to dispose of their cigarette ends in the lidded, cone-shaped, biodegradable ashtrays instead of on the sand.
In its first year alone, an astounding 84,300 cigarette ends (weighing a whopping 42.15 kg in total) were disposed of in the specially provided bins during June, July and August 2017.
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