Privacy Policy

Last Updated: June 2, 2026

1. Introduction

Trash Hunter ("we", "our", or "us") is a community-driven mobile application that allows users to share the locations of useful items left outside near trash bins, so that other people can find and reuse them. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information when you use our app.

By using Trash Hunter, you agree to the collection and use of information as described in this policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the app.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Account Information

When you register or sign in, we collect:

• Email address — used for authentication, account verification, and password recovery.
• First and last name — used to display your profile within the app.
• Authentication credentials — managed securely by Firebase Authentication. We do not store your password directly.

If you sign in with Google or Apple, we receive your name and email address from your account.

2.2 User-Generated Content

When you create a post, we collect:

• Post title and description — text you provide describing the item.
• Photos — images you upload of the item. You can select a photo from your device's gallery or take a new photo using your device's camera directly within the app. Photos are stored in Firebase Storage.
• Camera access — we request access to your device's camera solely to allow you to take photos of items when creating a post. We do not capture images in the background or access the camera at any other time.
• Location data — the address and geographic coordinates (latitude/longitude) of the item you are posting. This is the location you select on the map, not your personal location.

2.3 Location Data

• We request access to your device's location (GPS) to help you find items near you and to allow you to pin item locations on the map.
• Location access is optional — the app functions without it, but certain features (e.g., "My Location" on the map) require it.
• We do not track or store your real-time location. Location is only used when you explicitly interact with the map.

2.4 Usage Data

We may collect basic usage data to improve app performance, including:

• App crash reports and error logs (via Firebase).
• General interaction patterns (no personally identifiable information).

2.5 Locally Stored Data

We store the following on your device using local storage:

• Your language preference (English or Greek).
• Your selected city filter.
• A cached copy of your profile data for faster loading.

This data never leaves your device and is cleared when you log out or uninstall the app.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Create and manage your account.
• Display your posts to other users.
• Show items on the map for the community.
• Allow you to save/bookmark posts.
• Send email verification and password reset emails.
• Improve app performance and fix issues.

4. Data Sharing

We share data only in the following limited cases:

• Firebase (Google) — We use Firebase for authentication, database, and file storage. Your data is processed according to Google's Privacy Policy.
• Google Maps — We use Google Maps to display maps and perform geocoding. Map interactions are subject to Google's Privacy Policy.
• Legal requirements — We may disclose your information if required by law or to protect the rights, safety, or property of our users or the public.

5. Data Retention

• Your account data is retained as long as your account is active.
• Post data (title, description, images, location) is retained as long as the post is active in the app.
• When you delete your account, all your personal data (profile information) is removed. Posts you have created may be retained in anonymized form.
• You can request deletion of your data at any time by contacting us (see Section 10).

6. Data Security

We take reasonable measures to protect your information:

• All data is transmitted over encrypted connections (HTTPS/TLS).
• Authentication is handled by Firebase Authentication, which uses industry-standard security practices.
• Images are stored securely in Firebase Storage.
• We do not store passwords — authentication is managed entirely by Firebase.

However, no method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Children's Privacy

Trash Hunter is not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that we have collected data from a child under 13, we will take steps to delete that information promptly.

8. Your Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the following rights:

• Access — Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Correction — Request correction of inaccurate data.
• Deletion — Request deletion of your account and personal data.
• Portability — Request your data in a portable format.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information in Section 10.

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any significant changes by updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy. Your continued use of the app after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy.

10. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal data, please contact us at: