Cameras to be used against illegal dumping

The government is planning to install closed-circuit television (CCTV) in locations where dumping is rampant, Environment Minister George Pullicino said yesterday.

The presence of plainclothes wardens patrolling the streets is also expected to be instrumental in catching litter bugs in the act when the new Littering Regulations come into force on January 1.

Enforcement always seems to be a sticking point with litter regulations - Malta does not exactly win the award for cleanliness despite the existence of such laws. So how were the new rules going to change the situation?

"Well, first and foremost, the fact that the fines are much steeper serves as a deterrent. Plus, the present fines are so low that it was not worth directing so much time and energy to enforcement, when the return is a ridiculous amount. The introduction of plainclothes wardens should also help," Mr Pullicino replied.

Under the new regulations the fine for littering, now Lm10, will shoot up to between Lm25 to Lm50, while the fines for dumping will soar to between Lm1,000 and Lm2,500 from the current Lm500 to Lm1,000 and will double if the offence is committed close to monuments, heritage sites, parks or beaches.

Since, unlike cars, humans have no registration number, people are expected to produce their identity card when stopped by a warden for littering.

Mr Pullicino said these measures were being introduced to eradicate once and for all the rampant littering which he described as a "disease".

He was addressing a press conference during which an agreement of principles between the government, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority and the Local Councils Association was signed for the implementation of the new regulations.

It paves the way for an extensive information campaign about the regulations, which will be introduced on a trial basis as from October when wardens will start issuing written warnings.

Mr Pullicino insisted that the fines issued during the trial period will not have to be paid, unless the perpetrator repeats the crime when the regulations are introduced - if so the person will be fined twice.

Wardens will also start being trained. A total of 40 undercover wardens are expected to be employed. They will be issued with an identification card to ensure there is no abuse.

Mr Pullicino insisted it was crucial that this system targeted the core issues of dumping and littering and did not verge on the extreme - such as fining somebody who had taken out their rubbish a couple hours too early - as this would backfire.

"Let us target the priorities and not go to the other extreme. If we go on a witch hunt against the public we will not succeed," he said.

So far 15 local councils have expressed interest in taking part in the scheme, and association president Ian Micallef said this was encouraging considering that the councils had until the end of this month to come forward.

A call for tenders has also been issued for the provision of litter bins and their maintenance, as well as special receptacles for the disposal of cigarettes and dog waste. Seventy per cent of the littering fines originating from wardens contracted by local councils shall be distributed to the council and 30 per cent to the environment fund, while with dumping fines the revenue will be split equally.

On the other hand, from litter fines originating from wardens contracted by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority the local council will receive 20 per cent, Mepa 50 per cent and the environment fund the remaining 30 per cent.

With regards to dumping, the environment fund will get the bulk of the revenue with 50 per cent, Mepa 30 per cent and the council 20 per cent.

The disbursements from this fund shall take place periodically and the councils will submit proposals for environmental projects using these funds.

"We are not claiming to have the perfect answer or the solutions to everything so we are setting up a surveillance committee to gauge how this system is working and tweak and change accordingly. Help us make it work," Mr Pullicino said.