New waste scheme has no effect on bring-in sites

The importance of bring-in sites has not been diminished by the weekly door-to-door separated waste collection scheme, Resources and Rural Affairs Minister George Pullicino said yesterday.

In fact, the amount of separated waste, excluding glass, collected from bring-in sites increased by more than 43 tonnes between May 2007 and last month, he said.

This is in addition to the 613 tonnes of separated waste collected in May during the weekly door-to-door collections that kicked off on May 5.

"It is clear that the two systems are complementary," said the minister.

Speaking during a press conference in Attard - where the highest amount of waste per capita was collected from doorsteps - Mr Pullicino announced that, as from this week, bags containing anything apart from metal, plastic and paper would not be collected under the weekly scheme. Collectors, he continued, would be putting a sticker on uncollected bags to inform people why their bag has been left behind.

The minister pointed out that throwing glass among the separated waste could lead to injuries among waste separators working at the Sant' Antnin Recycling Plant, while organic waste could contaminate the rest of the waste, rendering it useless.

Mr Pullicino said enough energy for Gozo would be generated if all waste was translated into energy.

Newly appointed inspectors are currently touring localities to listen to people's complaints and make sure that the system is working well. Among their work is ensuring that all vehicles are cleaned before collecting separated waste to ensure that no contamination takes place.

The minister said a culture change was not only needed among collectors - who would not be paid unless they abided by the agreed regulations - but also among the public who must realise the importance of separating waste.

The minister announced the launch of an annual prize for the three localities that collect most waste per capita.

Parliamentary secretary Chris Said welcomed people's support for the waste separation scheme, saying some had still to understand the importance of this initiative.