Phil Pryce, Attard
Litter spotting on the streets
I regularly take a walk in the Attard, Ta' Qali area, more for my health than for any particular enjoyment.
To be honest, I find walking rather boring and so I try to think about some problem or other in the hope I might reach a solution by the time I get home.
I went for one of these walks on Sunday and for no other reason than to make the time pass more quickly I decided, sadly, to keep a running count of the plastic and glass bottles and empty drink cans along the way.
Now I am not a particularly fast walker and only walk for about an hour, so it was with some considerable alarm when my count reached 748.
Yes, that's right, 748 assorted plastic and glass bottles and empty drink cans, and I stopped counting around the stadium where this sort of thing is "expected".
Do the people that throw these things on the ground think that they will disappear overnight? Do they care?
What is the matter with these people? Were they born with some sort of brain deficiency? I don't really know what the answer is except education. That sort of education should start at home but when mum and dad set the example by throwing litter around, maybe it would be better started at school.
That way, just maybe, the kids will shame their parents by their disgust at the practice.
Also, isn't this practice against the law? Why don't the wardens start giving these people a hefty fine that might make them think twice.
We have an SMS number for vehicle emissions, how about one for people who litter?
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Joe Cordina
Aug 1st 2008, 08:23
How right you are it seems that we enjoy living in trash. A more pressing and hazardous problem if I may add is the rampant rodent population around all Ta' Qali picnick areas. I wonder wehther the Health dept has ever actively taken up the issue.
Rob Alcock
Aug 1st 2008, 03:30
My wife and I love Malta but must agree that there is a lot of litter in many places and its almost impossible not to notice it. Your Island is beautiful, but I can imagine it would be even better if there was less litter. Rubbish disposal is a big problem everywhere in the world, including my own country NZ. I guess we all need to think about our environment and how we as individuals can help keep it clean. Next time I’m out walking, either in Malta or NZ, I will pick up some litter and try to be part of the solution.
B Agius
Aug 1st 2008, 02:45
The issue is not, to start with, that people litter. They do that everywhere. The issue is that Government needs to charge citizens to pay for good well managed cleaning systems that are consistent and , after, fine others if they litter. That's why some countries are clean: they have a system that manages the issue. Malta unfortunately have no real consistent systems in place for anything. And people's attitudes will never change as nothing hits them directly in the hip pocket.
charles baldacchino
Jul 31st 2008, 17:03
this is nothing compared to the kitter in ghadira promenade during weekends and especially on sunday morning and then we are surprised when tourists' figures drop - i wonder why they come to such a filthy place - some forceful action by all authorities is long overdue
R.Zahra
Jul 31st 2008, 16:55
I agree!
F Bonello
Jul 31st 2008, 13:53
Yes, Phil Pryce is 100% correct. If you just look in any of the "giardini" found in Attard and also in wied ta' Rmiedi (behind Ivory & Co) and any street, you see a great number of such litter.
I do not know if it would be wise for the Local Council to organize a Clean Up Attard Day inviting all resident especially children to take part in this activity. Hopefully the message reaches these 'culprits' and perhaps they refrain from throwing any litter in the streets etc.
Jean Pierre Aquilina
Jul 31st 2008, 10:32
Education may begin at home but in some cases unfortunately it stops there.
Michael Andrews
Jul 31st 2008, 10:00
Although i generally agree with everything you said about these people who litter with out a care in the world....... an SMS number who those who litter?.... come on.
I. M. Dingli
Jul 31st 2008, 09:06
How can you have an sms number for these kind of infringments. How would you prove it and moreover what details would you give of the person littering? I believe you can't just walk to the person in question and ask him for his details!
Franco Farrugia
Jul 31st 2008, 09:06
Foreign students' presence among us is also taking its toll on the general littering in the country. This morning, at 4 a.m., St George's Bay in Paceville was a veritable litter-bin! And streets were the same, all the way from the bay to Gzira!
I wonder who pays for the general cleanup? And with whose money?