Monday, 18th August 2008 - 13:11CET

New crackdown on dumping and littering

Christian Peregin

The police, MEPA and local wardens have embarked on a crackdown on littering and dumping as part of a 10-day pilot project to enforce regulations and keep the streets clean.

The exercise is being headed by Chris Said, Parliamentary Secretary for Public Dialogue and Information.

The exercise is intended to be the start of a permanent system of enforcement. More details on this permanent system will be announced at a later stage by the secretariat.

The crackdown which started today will see police, local wardens and MEPA officials working together to come down strongly on those found violating cleanliness regulations, by handing out fines to offenders.

A spokesman for the parliamentary secretariat said that MEPA enforcement officers would be working day and night in both rural and urban areas in an attempt to catch offenders red-handed, especially when it comes to illegal dumping.

Local councils are participating in the project by supplying their wardens for the jobs. The councils were given until Wednesday to inform the secretariat of problem areas in each locality so that these zones could be targeted first.

The exercise will also include ongoing monitoring in areas all over Malta and Gozo.

The secretariat is currently involved in the Local Councils reform process, where cleanliness and upkeep of towns and villages have featured prominently in the consultation process.

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Comments

C. Farrugia (on 21/8/08)

@ E. Azzopardi

You just reminded me of a saying by Abraham Lincoln....

You can fool some people all the time..
You can fool all people for some time..
But you can't fool all people....all the time....

And most people are tired of being fooled!!

E. Azzopardi (on 20/8/08)

Reading all these remarks there is one thing which strikes you. Most of the citizens of these islands do not believe any longer what the government says and they are right. Which is very sad. But we have heard so much before such as, green wardens, upgrading of public transport, new building construction regulations, MEPA ( one does not have to elaborate here) etc etc that it is obvious that the majority do not believe. Yes, very sad indeed because the citizens deserve better. And those who are in the position to make promises should have the following in big letters in front of them : NEVER MAKE A PROMISE YOU CANNOT KEEP
(apologies for shouting but perhaps they hear this)

Diana Gatt (on 20/8/08)

Well done especially to St. Paul's Bay local council for sleeping so effectively!! Triq il-Hagra l-
wieqfa has become a health hazard where instead of rubbish being collected it is being piled in a corner underneath hundreds of tourists noses!! Maybe our rubbish collector is ejoying a holiday in the company of our local counsil's members?!!!!

M. Costa (on 20/8/08)

What a load of bull. Why don't they start by clearing the huge amount of rubbish scattered all along what used to be the White Rocks complex? It's an open, derilict dump which can be seen from the coast road. The whole of Malta is fast becoming a dump in fact.

Nigel Lawrence (on 20/8/08)

Oh- ANOTHER crackdown on littering.
Judging by the state of the country, what happened to all the other "crackdowns"?

S Calleja (on 20/8/08)

Gheriexem Street, Rabat, Malta (which is only metres away from a world heritage sight i.e. the Roman Villa) still remains one of the biggest rubbish dumps for fridges, microwaves and cookers. What a joke! I have made several efforts to contact the Rabat local council about it months ago, obviousley, to no avail! I hope Mr. Said's efforts will lead to the cleaning of this street once and for all.

Nicholas Diacono (on 20/8/08)

It's good to hear about these new regulations seeing them in action is another thing, is this going to be like the no drinking in the streets. In St Julians the signs are up but last Saturday it was business as usual, the only difference was that the kids carried their drinks in plastic bags and plastic cups. The mess they leave in the streets and on our doorsteps is disgusting. St.Julians residents have been waiting for something to happen for a long time, our Local Council are non existent . We wait and see,

Andrew Gatt (on 20/8/08)

The "Reclaim Your Countryside" campaign sure is working if this photo is anything to go by.............!!!!

mario aquilina (on 20/8/08)

I had the courage of putting on a billboard on my balcony in Qawra that read "WELCOME TO THIS S**THOLE", and I am being prosecuted over it.

The truth hurts, my dear brothers and sisters.

My mistake is, that I should have erected this sign at our airport or near the cruise liner terminal.

C.Spiteri (on 20/8/08)

A Bezzina: you are definetly not talking about Attard. The bulky refuse service is excellent. They phone you up give you the time, keep that time and are so polite. Well done Attard Council

Joe Galea (on 20/8/08)

I hope this is not just publicity talk and no action.

It's about time that someone realises that dumping and rubbish everywhere is an inlicting pain to this delicate small island.

C. Farrugia (on 20/8/08)

As someone has already mentioned.....where are the GREEN Wardens? They seem to have developed a love for traffic fining...and only that! Or maybe...just watching construction work being carried out?! (sic)

It seems that like everything else in this country.... ALL HYPE FOR A MONTH OR TWO.....then it all dies a natural death!

Ronnie Gauci (on 19/8/08)

I've been reading this type of news for decades now but all remains the same. I don't see that this time anything will be different. I'm curious on how many persons were prosecuted for illegal dumping in the last years. We also had a famous and well renowned Maltese contractor who was caught many times dumping building debris in open seas, there were also photos proving this but I never heard he ever paid a cent for it. Enough said!!

Charles Micallef (on 19/8/08)

I have been harping about rubbish strewn around Qawra and Bugibba for many years, taking the trouble of taking photographs as evidence and passing them over to the authorities to no avail, although to my surprise, I brought a couple of front garden terraces situated in Tourist Street which full of rubbish to the attention of whom it may concern through the Times and they were cleaned withion 48 hours, at last someone must be listening.

Let us hope that we have some consistency and with this campaign as by god we need it.

R. Chircop (on 19/8/08)

Such a measure should also include those people who take their dogs out and leave a mess behind.

Vehicles who drop oil should not be allowed on the road. A truck parked at independence avenue is a typical example

Ray Gatt (on 19/8/08)

BLA BLA BLA BLA BLA BLA BLA BLA BLA..........I'LL BELIEVE IT WHEN I SEE IT!!!!!!

Silvio Demicoli (on 19/8/08)

Why not authority / local councils fix a hidden cctv without any notice in some certian areas?

A Bezzina (on 19/8/08)

All great... except that they should really start with what they think is a good idea but is flawed at the roots. Some years ago the local councils introduced a FREE bulky refuse service. They advertise that this service will come to your home and pick up any bulky garbage that you might have and dispose of it for free. GREAT!!! until you try to use it.
First this service is only available once a week so litter could be out on the street for that long, then they come with an already full van and will not take your whole lot of stuff if they consider it too much, but what's worse is that if you happen to be storing it away in your garage or somewhere were it does not litter the public space, you have no choice but to wait for them to come any time between 10am and 3pm. They categorically refuse to call you before they come so you just have to wait. So basically this service is only good for those without jobs, not much to throw away, and don't mind splitting a job in three times!!! Let's not offer what we can't deliver!

yvonne dalli (on 19/8/08)

at long last something is going to be done, the first place they should be seeing to is tal-gebel road, were the goverments flats have gone up, the mess is just terrible they clean thir car and just through the rubbish on our side of the street,i
have lived herar for 18 years and never seen such a terrible place it is just like a rubbish tip our worse, hope things will improve now that things are being checked out.

Clive Brockdorff (on 19/8/08)

I agree with Ms. Rebecca Sultana and Mr. Mark Spiteri - the Tal-Qroqq area of Msida (especially University Street) is a shambles. Irresponsible people take out their garbage at all times of day resulting in revolting stenches and scattered litter. Msida Local Council would not lack for funds if it had to station a warden or two who would be kept more than busy dishing out fines to to the savages who presume to treat the neighbourhood as their dustbin!

T Bezzina (on 19/8/08)

Should we all be amazed by this wonderful idea ? maybe we're starting these activities 50 years late after half the populatation still has the mentality of throwing empty packets of cigrattes out of the car window and littering empty fields with their unwanted garbage.
It's a tough challenge to change these people's mentality. As mentioned the apporach should one of unannounced spot checks, only in this way can people be scared to litter (since they are so ignorant to understand it's negative ambiental impact). as to Mr Joseph Sammut reg the Guseppe Cali Str, unfortnautely it seems that the Lija local council is only interested in the main square area I have lived in lija for 4 years now and it seems they also forgot about our areas. An Idea on this topic. should the authorities provide a telephone and email where citizens can send information regarding persons littering or areas being abused perhaps they could investigate ? I know it's a major task but in the case of the exhaust emissions it seemed to work.. Let's improve on this and not let it die like many other ideas PLEASE we need a cleaner country..

Noel Cutajar (on 19/8/08)

I concur with Martin Saliba to what he said...I was once there waiting for some friends when a white skoda came and opened the back doors in order to dump a small fridge. When I spoke to him that I was going to report him...all I got was some colourful language and to mind my own business. I reported him, the fridge remained there for some weeks...

Rachel Attard (on 19/8/08)

Lower St. Albert Street is the dirtiest street in Gzira and there is a rubbish dumb in the lower part of Parisio Street, Sliema. But who cares !!!!

Franco Farrugia (on 19/8/08)

For instance, what about the littering that takes place during festa activities???? During mass celebrations?

Franco Farrugia (on 19/8/08)

This crackdown in itself, is a positive thing.
But, like everything else that takes place in Malta and Gozo, it should be carried out well. By this, I mean that it's easy to start with the small fry and ignore the rampant law-breaking of those who are bigwigs - whether they are employers, businessmen, etc... We have to treat the small fry individual - so easy to slap fines at them, isn't it? - as well as the corporates! I sincerely hope that there will be justice in this sphere.

roberto bordino (on 19/8/08)

this island is sinking in its own dirt. its heart breaking to observe. I use the word dirt becouse what i really want to say will not be published. this is a sad dirty fithy place

Peter Abela (on 18/8/08)

Dear Ms B. Camilleri.
The only 24 hour Law Enforcement System is run by the Police and it is advisable to call them at the Police Headquarters and then they direct you from there.
As to Mr fenech I again compliment him on his sharpness to detect crime yet to date, the council had no calls regarding any law infrengements. Should it help Mr Fenech I am poublicly forwarding my email address"""abelap01@gmail.com"""" ansd assure him that action will be taken withen 24 hours, while guaranteeing the stricktest of confidence

Alfred Mangion (on 18/8/08)

This is your chance Mr Mayor of San Gwann Local Council to catch the culprits. Now you cannot pass the bug on to residents to report culprits or on to MEPA to give you advice since you should be supplying your wardens for the job. We will see what happens in San Gwann during and after the 10-day pilot project is over. May I suggest, for a start, visits opposite FEXCO in Naxxar Road, San Gwann especially in the late evenings; opposite the Russian Embassy in Kappara and in Birkirkara Road all along the boundary wall up to the corner with Triq il-Gallina.

Karl Abela (on 18/8/08)

Its always the governments fault! How many times have we read similar comments here? Dont we realise that its our own FELLOW Maltese citizens that are dirtying our own island? Dont we realise that it is a change in mentality that we need? Or could it be that some individuals are doing such acts on purpose so that we can have something to blame on the government? Do we really want a police state with a police man placed in every corner of the island? We have bring-in sites, we have recycling skips, we have an efficient & free bulk refuse service by the local council. What else do we want? Don't you people realise that this is being done on purpose by some politically biased scoundrels?

martin saliba (on 18/8/08)

Well done NOTTTTTTTTT!!

I have been complaining about a problem area to Sliema & Gzira local councils for about 4 years now. It is a two fold problem area as it is between Sliema and Gzira , Lower St. Albert Str. to be exact right at the end where when you turn right one can find the preston bar and the language school. Why did there have to be a crack down to send wardens when i have been complaining for years. But again it is only a farce. In Maltese we say Biex j**** f'***** bina.
They sent two wardens parked about 6 meters from the site in a MARKED CAR!!!!!!!!

Thank you for nothing.

ALBERT FENECH (on 18/8/08)

Why is is that these "measures" no longer leave us impressed - simply because they are all mostly fake. For example, late last week the St Paul's Bay Council announced a similar crackdown on rubbish and litter. What happened? Well, in Qawra, today's rubbish collection took place at 4pm when it normally takes place in the morning. So, at the height of summer, rubbish that had already been festering throughout Saturday and Sunday was left exposed in sunlight and baking heat for more hours ... the smells throughout the streets were simply over-powering. Additionally I have seen a number of mattresses and broken furniture left out on the pavement of a nearby house for over a week and - yet again - nothing happened. Nowadays we take every Government pronouncement with a pinch of salt.

Talking of Qawra, in our area water and drainage seepage have been prevalent since the beginning of summer. It is obvious to one and all, but not our wardens who are more interested in the quick bucks that flow from their parking tickets in an area where parking is at a premium.

James Mizzi (on 18/8/08)

Does this include people who dump objects out of their cars? How many times we see this happening while driving? Are our enforcers blind to these violations? Weren’t we told once again there was going to be a crackdown? Now that we have soft drinks bottled in plastic, the situation is even worse.

Joseph Sammut (on 18/8/08)

Has Lija local council informed the secretariate of the plight Giseppe Cali Street has been for the past 24 months?

a.m. sciberras (on 18/8/08)

well done! this will be an improvement not only for tourism but also for the locals. let's take it a step further by increasing education efforts in schools and on the local media. besides cleaning, we also need prevention of littering and dumping and education can play a big role in this.

H. Mizzi (on 18/8/08)

This effort is commendable. However there is also the legal dumping. Take a stroll along Islets Promenade In Bugibba and see the skips overflowing with rubbish spilling over onto the pavements. These mostly contain waste generated from nearby shops, restaurants and also kiosks. Is this not dumping? Can anyone organise collection of rubbish along these much sought out areas even on Sundays and Public Holidays? Dumping is a national scandal and every effort should be made to stop it.

Robert Grech (on 18/8/08)

Please do consider including Smart City whereabouts in the pilot project! We can surely do without a smart rubbish dump until the masterpiece is completed.

Mark Spiteri (on 18/8/08)

Priority to the area of Tal Qroqq in Msida should be given, particularly Triq L-Universita'

Rubbish is dumped everywhere right on people's doorstep and left there to stink through the whole night (or weekend)
Rubbish Skips are left full for whole weekends and what about dog litter. It is everywhere , dog owners should know better !

And as already mentioned in this thread, all this is happening a corner away from the Warden's Head Office ! How funny eh?!

MTA should also take notice of this fact. This area is populated by tourists who frequent this area for their English schools, so if we want to promote a nice image of our island, Let US do something !

Matthew Tabone (on 18/8/08)

I sincerely hope that a good and permanent system will be set up so that finally we will be tidy as any other civilised country!! ....but why decades have to pass to have something done in Malta.

M Azzopardi (on 18/8/08)

Prosit.

Come down on them like a ton of bricks.

Better still, perform periodici crackdowns unannounced......and publicise it after.

N Grech (on 18/8/08)

Its about time we clean up our roads and apart from that we need to repair any broken bins sign posts phoneboxes etc to give a better image. To start with we need to double our cleaning services in peak tourism as the refuse is doubled. Places like Manoel Island is in such a mess in all view of yacht ownners and crew alike , with a gate at the bridge which can be monitored by the authorities all the illegal dumping can be avoided. we need to educate ourselves, introduce heavier fines and we need to know where to call to report any illegal dumping.

M.Bisazza (on 18/8/08)

I read "day and night".

I hope this is true, as the trouble we always have with certain aspects of littering (eg. dog litter) is the result of the lack of wardens after a certain time, with people taking their pets for a walk after sunset. Let's hope this project solves this problem too.

joe vella (on 18/8/08)

excellent effort! I especially liked the comments by m farrugia regarding the situation near Giormina in st paul's bay- the problem is that this has been going on for far too long and it has become established practice! I have seen the president's car stuck there and even though mr president is inside no action has ever been taken, I have also seen police cars double parking there or driving by without taking action I just wonder why?
I spend my summer months at xemxija and in order to avoid this problem I go via Xemxija bypass to avoid the mess
as for the wardens, once they are brought out of their hibernation, (forced by the need of votes for the election!) can mr said pse ensure that they are not put on a quota basis for the number of fines they issue!

Joe Buttigieg (on 18/8/08)

One week later all is back to what it used to be. Like the restaurant tables near the Nazzarenu Church in Sliema. That's enforcement for you.

Bella Camilleri (on 18/8/08)

hi i live in st. pauls' bay in summer - my oh my the rubbish that residents leave on their doorsteps on the eves of public holidays - Thursday and also Saturdays!! There are cats stroming everywhere and the nuisance of having to avoid the rubbish bags on the pavements. It is a shame. Can anyone supply me with a 24 hr number where I can call.....I read in the newspaper that as from this coming Wednesday St. Paul's Bay wardens would be patrolling this problem....but where I live - in front of the Sirens Pool - we do not have the oportunity of seeing any wardens as everyone parks in the middle of the road leaving the car unattended and also for hours and hours blocking the street.

Vince Buhagiar (on 18/8/08)

Does this cover all the villages in the island, or just only those who have a warden service? I think it’s time to have some justice regarding the distribution of this service because taxes are a burden for everyone and not just for a few.
I wish all the best to those involved and may come the day that the street will become the tidiest in Europe as the insides of our homes.

Vivienne Borg Critelli (on 18/8/08)

.
Manuel Misfud said it all.......As far back as 1977 when visiting Malta and seeing all the rubbish and garbage around, I had stated.......that if fines are given ......hefty fines that is not only will the dumping stops. (hit their pocket-bookjs) but the money collected will pay for the salaries of the wardens....... I know for a fact that American Visits always say.........Malta is Beautiful.......but a garbage dump.

Rebecca Sultana (on 18/8/08)

Hopefully the authorities will keep a close watch on Triq L-Universita and Triq Edgar Bernard at Msida. Rubbish and filth is being dumped everywhere at any time of the day. No one sweeps our roads any more; and although the wardens are just round the corner, no one ever gets fined for littering or filling the skips (up to bursting) and its surroundings - because the green wardens have vanished... just like leprechauns!!

Noel Brincat (on 18/8/08)

WELL DONE TO CHRIS SAID. The first road in consideration in Msida should be ACHILLE FERRIS STREET and it's adjacent garden, full of litter all day!!!

Y Hesselman (on 18/8/08)

@ Erin Tanti
Why are you just blaming language students? As if the Maltese keep their country clean! Please stop pointing fingers to the "foreigners" for this problem every time. Those tourists that litter Malta should be fined heavily in the same way all Maltese should be fined. ( even when they throw away a small piece of paper!) This is a great initiative but like everyone is saying here: THIS TIME PLEASE MEAN IT AND ENFORCE IT, AND NOT JUST FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS BUT PERMANENTLY!!

m farrugia (on 18/8/08)

Prosit, Chris Said was definitely one of the very good choices Dr Gonzi made after the last election. Keep up the good work. These measures are badly needed to civilise some of our disrespectful citizens. I have just been in Mellieha Bay. A number of families use plastic bottle of water to clean their feet from sand before leaving and leave the bottles running around. Is it too much to take the bottles home or to the nearest dustbin? Mela, inkella we'll dirty our car, we spent three hours washing and polishing it on Saturday!

ONE FIRST SUGGESTION TO WARDENS -MELLIEHA BAY- THE STAIRS LEADING FROM THE CAR PARK NEXT TO PUBLIC TOILETS DOWN TO COSTA DEL SOL BAR, YOU'LL SURELY KEEP BUSY.

After this crackdown, a similar crackdown on uncivilised drivers on our roads would be welcome. Hefty fines to one of those drivers stopping in the middle of St Pauls Bay main road, waiting for their wife to get a load of bread from Giormina, blocking and slowing down traffic including buses, would surely go a long way to teach these drivers what prudence and respect means.

Patrick Oonk (on 18/8/08)

Does this mean that the dumps left and right of Hotel Serena in Xlendi will be cleaned too? And the dumped fridges on the road to Wied al Ghasri?

Erin Tanti (on 18/8/08)

If each local council sets out fixing a litter bin on every corner, sure that we would not have all the language students littering all about....yet seems that in Malta, - the opposite seems happening, a bin that was fixed next to the bus stop by the Halland Hotel, was removed, now field behind in full of rubbish.....come and see for your self!!

E. Micallef (on 18/8/08)

Congratulations, congratulations and a million more congratulations. I have not felt so elated in a long time. Please say how the public can help and, please, please and a million more please .... keep up the good work you are initiating and let this not be just a 7 day wonder! Let's make sure that the pilot does work. Oh to live in a cleaner country.

joseph stafrace (on 18/8/08)

At time of writing this comment the garbage in Triq Sant Antnin Marsaskala has not been collected yet!!!!!!

Manuel Mifsud (on 18/8/08)

About Time! Now please, keep it up. We're fed up of having such initiatives started only to die a natural death after a few weeks. Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said is the right person to head this exercise but he needs the full support of everyone.

May I suggest that all funds collected through the fines handed out to the various offenders should go towards the funding of the permanent system of enforcement. This will go a long way to convince everyone that the authorities mean business.

E. Azzopardi (on 18/8/08)

And about time too!! Where are the promised Green Wardens? Just get the culprits
hit them hard with fines. These are the same morons. Once they are caught (hopelfully!!!) and there are quite a few of them (so don't tell us you fined half a dozen!!) they should be told that there name has gone into the system and next time the fine WILL DOUBLE ( aplogize for shouting) and the next one will double again and so on and so forth. The vast majority of the citizens are all for this as this is essential health wise, tourism wise etc. What is not essential is when the bumper of your car is 10cm on the yellow line and you are fined!!
Let us get our priorities right, shall we? And by the way, this should be ongoing and not as we usually do by starting something and then we just give up or nobody cares any more.
There are many examples but let us stop here. We shall see if we are determined about this and it is not a matter of bla bla again.

Jeremy J Camilleri (on 18/8/08)

A well done to Chris Said and all concerned.

Let us hope this project is given the backing it deserves.

I Borg (on 18/8/08)

Good measure. Cleanliness must be priority No1. Pity there are still too much individuals who don't care - the fines are one solution, education is the other. In this sense I think Xummiemu left a vacuum.

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