Catching litter bugs

I have been away from Malta for two months and on my return I see that the government is getting to grips with the emissions problem. This is great news and I for one have already texted the registration number of an offender. There is no excuse for a smoky diesel engine - it is purely lack of maintenance.

I agree with the editorial comment on the litter problem - the people who dump builder's rubbish are ignorant and probably couldn't care less about many things. These people will only learn through being caught and heavily fined.

In England, part of my job was to find the offenders who dumped rubbish, which entailed sifting through the rubbish to find evidence i.e. letters or in the case of builder's rubbish where paint tins were purchased etc. Will the wardens be doing this? I have brought successful court proceedings through this evidence.

How about asking builders to produce written proof that they disposed of their rubble legally?

There is also the problem of vendors, i.e. cafés and kiosks having rubbish outside there premises. Why shouldn't they tidy up their areas on closing? There is a very good kiosk at Qawra Point but the litter in front of the building on the sea side is appalling. If I owned the premises, I would clear the surrounding area every evening. It wouldn't take long.

To spend nearly Lm40,000 on clearing illegal rubbish is a problem that must be resolved. Many useful things could be done to enhance the island with that money.