300 fines over two weeks in crackdown on littering

S. A. Camilleri

Aug 28th 2008, 21:39

Mr. Charles Stafrace it is quite obvious you hate horses. They need to do their business somewhere and I am extremly glad that they do it where people get annoyed with it as they are left in the sun to bake.

Dog excrement by the way can blindness if the eyes are touched after it is touched, therefore it is not just about hygene but safety.

I wait for the day when in Malta and Gozo people start to respect animals more so they can truly call themselves a civilised people. Maybe in six generations more they will start.

R. Borg

Aug 28th 2008, 15:44

This initiative should hopefully educate the Maltese! However a couple of Sundays ago I was strolling the Ghadira promenade when i came face to face with two environment wardens who were checking the area. Funny thing is this.. the beach was packed full of plastic bottles, metal cans, wrappers and all type of waste? I saw families return to their car and leave behind a tonne of garbage behind them. How cost effective! No body seemed to be getting a fine then!

eric theuma

Aug 28th 2008, 15:05

people should learn to obey regulations because they are there not beause they see the autoreties.

Pierre Agius

Aug 28th 2008, 13:56

Well done! Good job and keep it up! We owe it only to ourselves to have a clean and proud Malta! Hope that now no minister would walk up barking to some warden like happened in the past (was it not the minister of tourism who charged at a warden for fining a constituent for littering?)

Joseph Schembri

Aug 28th 2008, 11:29

@Charles Stafrace: The answer is simple: People like you and I who take dogs for walks are docile, kindly, usually considerate folk do not form a united front. Meanwhile those who use horses to 'serve our tourism industry' while leaving the poor animals in the hot sun and without water are a vociferous and rowdy lobby. Taxi rides in Malta are expensive but try asking for the price of a horse driven cab ride round Mdina!

By the way: When there are no trappers around I like to let Spotty of the lead in the countryside. At times I am not sure whether he does his business incognito without me noticing. Am I liable to prosecution for this or can I pass off 'his business' as fertliser?

Charles Stafrace

Aug 28th 2008, 09:21

I have never understood why puny dog excrement is punishable, with which I totally agree, while huge horse droppings in the middle of our roads, and whose stench contaminates the area some 100 mts each way especially in our hot summer season, seems to be allowed. This mainly applies to karozzini horses that ply our main tourist areas, but is also evident in other areas where horses are ridden or walked for pleasure. I sometimes feel that we are either living in a past era where this was the inevitable order of the day, or that we are existing in some village in the middle of Africa.

Joe Caruana

Aug 28th 2008, 07:14

Well done. It is high time people feel the pinch. It is only when people are made to pay that they may learn to keep the environment tidy. Please call at early and late hours at the Hawli Housing Estate on the outskirts of Birgu. It is a shame such a quite and normally clean area has become littered with dog shit these last months. Bare faced residents come with there dogs and let them shit on pavements in front of other residences.

Also please call at the Has-Saptan and ta' L'Andar areas of Ghaxaq, or the Ta' Haxum olive grove areas to see building left overs dumped, or household wastes dumped in this fresh air, picnic area site of Ghaxaq, to the detriment of residents. Both Local Councils did there very best to have the areas clean, but unscrupolous residents do not bother about the health of the majority of us residents.

Joseph Borg

Aug 27th 2008, 23:17

Enforcement and fines do help to teach the filthy Maltese who do not care about their Island.

Will the enforcement officers kindly watch the contractor dumping material in a Protected zone in Tal-Wej at Mosta just behind his workshop and residence. The local Mosta Local council, the police & MEPA know about this. This has been going on for a number of years now and maybe this is the right opportune moment to get the culprit.

We'll wait and see.

m. cassar

Aug 27th 2008, 22:07

While it is a step in the right direction, I do not think that the recent waste separation scheme is entirely effective since, for instance, one sees vast amounts of plastic bottles littering our beautiful landscapes. People need more incentives to dispose of plastic bottles. One idea could be to place large skips in supermarket carparks where people can dispose of their plastic bottles and get some money in return. This happens abroad and I am sure it can be applied locally.

@Karl Abela wrote: "Those who litter the streets do it because they have a political motive so that they can later point at the government. STOP IT!! You are ruining our country. Get civilized!" This is a highly politically-loaded and ridiculous statement. Do you mean to tell us that all street litter bugs (young and old) are Labour supporters? I don't think this applies to environmentalist Greens, and as we all know the PN has been the government of the day now many years, so you are implying that it can't be the civilized PN supporters since they would not litter and blame their own government. What trash (sorry for the pun, couldn't help it)!

Carmel Vella

Aug 27th 2008, 21:48

Yes, enforcement is needed and it pays as well. An area which definetly needs to be monitored is around MARSA OPEN CENTREand its surroundings especially under the flyover bridge which is really filthy and full of rubbish.

J. Borg

Aug 27th 2008, 19:49

Could the enforcement officers pay a visit around the fish farms please...thanks

Joseph Schembri

Aug 27th 2008, 14:34

Sounds good. I've got a few comments though. First is the problem of plastic bottles. Before joining the EU the govt. negotiated all sort of derogations including the infamous hunting law one. We should have negotiated (maybe we can still do it) to stop plastic fizzy drinks bottles from being used. We already had the regulations in place and they were scrapped! Second is that I hope that I will not be fined if I make a mistake and put something in the wrong waste separation bin!? Last, If I take my dog Spotty out for a walk and nature calls and I dutifully clean up and put the bag into the nearest bin then I will be left with no bag should a warden decide to inspect my pockets. A bit of a quandary no? Please let us not exaggerate in our eagerness to be good citizens. Remember how the traffic wardens have on the whole become, let me put it mildly, disliked for the flippant handing out of tickets and devious ways such as hiding somewhere to watch you commit 'the crime' and then come out to put the ticket on your windscreen when you've walked away.

John L Gatt

Aug 27th 2008, 10:28

Wow.....Great start and initiative to this campaign.....I do hope that this is not a government PR excersie. Can someone from the authorities please visit St.Thomas Bay/M'scala now in Summertime and do some enforcements which are needed urgently. It seems that these areas are forgotten by everyone.

Karl Abela

Aug 27th 2008, 09:15

The lack of bins especially in countryside or seaside is not an excuse for dumping all over the place. We need to stop blaming the authorities for not doing enough. We find it so convenient to do what ever we want and then blame it on the government. If there are no bins, you can collect/keep your own rubbish and use your bin at home. Those who litter the streets do it because they have a political motive so that they can later point at the government. STOP IT!! You are ruining our country. Get civilized!

Marie Darmanin

Aug 27th 2008, 08:16

This certainly is welcome news! I live in Toronto, but am just back from having made a visit to Malta. I had not been there in 17 years. There were many changes which I had found to be for the better but I was really disappointed by the lack of pride the Maltese have for their beautiful island. It's long overdue but I'm glad to see that something is finally being done to stop people from defacing the country. I too witnessed garbage thrown anywhere and everywhere and not just by the locals. The beaches are another problem and I'm sorry to say that tourists have to take on the responsibility too.
One day, while out for a swim, I witnessed a group of foreigners leave the beach littered with their water bottles and beer cans. I have to say that at least one Maltese gentleman had the fortitude to go over and clean up their mess and put it in the nearby bin. These people have to be shown that their carelessness and disregard for nature will not be tolerated. Come on Malta, stand up and take pride in your beautiful country!

David Martinelli

Aug 27th 2008, 06:31

Well done to the Government and to Dr. Chris Said.

With regards to the amounts of garbage, and that includes recyclables; might I suggest the following. In Canada, we have a blue box program which separates cans, plastic bottles, cardboard boxes from the actual garbage which is in the bag. You would still put it out beside the garbage, but another truck (only for recyclables) would come along and collect all the recyclables. In Ontario, we have had this program for at least 20 years or so and has worked fine. It would be a good step for Malta and it would better the environment in the process.

Another suggestion would be for plainclothes officers to be an "Unmarked Police Cruiser," so that repeat offenders would be caught and fined on the spot.

@M.Saliba

The fact that the government has nabbed 300+ fines is a good start. This program needs to be addressed and needs to continue on a permanent basis. Don't tell me that you could have collected the 300+ fines in one spot. These officers should be commended on catching those who continue to ruin Malta with all the garbage littering streets and towns alike.

R.Gauci

Aug 27th 2008, 00:33

Well done and keep up the enforcement! I agree that not only fines should be imposed but

also community cleaning works should be done by the culprits! L-ezempju jkaxxkar!

Once I was behind a black Kia Sportage of an MP in Valletta ( I recognize that from the

no.plate) I was shocked that after he stopped in the middle of the street to buy from a veggy

shop after 2 minutes some him throwing the peel of a bannana out of his car and after also a

piece of wrapper of a snack!

Good idea to put cameras on the roads to catch people littering from their cars. I also

suggest an sms no. where if you take a photo by mobile phone of someone littering or

dumping could be sended to.This will make people think twice before littering!

Keep up the good job!

mary said

Aug 27th 2008, 00:30

does not matter if it is a money making scheme, what matter is that the filth that people throw outside will someday be eradicated and some idiots will learn a lesson.
it is a shame, the beaches are so dirty. better watch out, or something drastic might come in place like bar b ques will be illegal on the beaches. and then no onw would be able to go and leave his burnt out charcoal, qxur tal bettieh, etc etc on the sand for the poeple to find it there the next day!
as for bins on the beaches, they are hideous, andthey should be placed, on the pavements before you get on the send, less flies, bees, wasps and stench. take a plastic bag, and put your rubbish in it, and then take it home. it is so simple
but some people are just plain dirty, and lazy and are not proud of beautiful Malta
also all trucks carrying loads, of for example, building materials, like zrar, xahx etc should be covered appropriatley otherwise they are not allowed on the roads...

people who complain about fines, change your behaviour. comply with the laws and you will not get fined!

John cassar

Aug 26th 2008, 23:33

All the talking in the world may possibly change nothing but you can only keep trying. The plastic bags with domestic rubbish is an eyesore. Have the authorities contemplated placing wheelie bins in strategic locations for residents to place their domestic rubbish? The bins could then be emptied regularly during the morning and it would also mean less stopping. Obviously the bins would need to be secured as the wbin wouldn'y last long. Cleanliness also begins with the individual and personal hygiene.

C. Weitze

Aug 26th 2008, 21:43

Yes indeed: high time and please keep it up now!

As for putting out the litter at the wrong times:
Our garbage truck passes by at 06:30 in the morning - sometimes one would wish one could sleep at bit longer. Other trucks come at a time when a lot of people are at work. Why not simply introducing additional skips as seen in San Gwann?

@ Vanessa Azzopardi, who doesn't know what to do with her cigarette buts: Have you ever heard of pocket ashtrays? Size-wise they are like little pill boxes, very handy and fit in every pocket. Even an ordinary small jar with a screw lid will do the trick.

Oh yes, and just in case somebody is really reading throughout the whole blog and taking notes of filthy places: please pass by St. John Street in Naxxar. There are enough cigarette buts on the floor for the next 500 fines.

Claude R Mallia

Aug 26th 2008, 21:22

To use of the word 'enforcement' is not correct here. It would have been if 300,000 fines were issued!!! Nevertheless it is a good beginning in our effort to keep this country clean and free of litter. Perhaps inspecting our beaches would be the next step!! After this, a number of inspections of all the yachts and boats littering our sea....

Charles Micallef

Aug 26th 2008, 20:32

The amount of comments that this site has generated on this report, confirms the strong feelings that we all hold on littering and waste dumping.

Lets us now hope that on this occasion the enforcement is consistent and not the usual flash in the pan.....

a.cassar

Aug 26th 2008, 19:58

community service rather than fines should be th punishment. unless the exercise is not a money making one.

Stanley Cassar Darien

Aug 26th 2008, 18:53

Fantastic news, keep it up Chris Said. It would be great if local councils have a community clean up twice a year(good idea Cat) esp before the first storms. All the rubbish gets carried down to the sea. Maltese seem to love their town or village more than the country so we should use that to clean Malta by default. Birgu's mayor did a really good job there.

One main problem is that in Malta, we do not have any national pride, we do not have a proper national day really, parents feel happy to give their children a red or blue flag, an Italian or British flag but not a Maltese one. Journalists spend more time talking about Mintoff and Borg Olivier than issues like this, go figure. I am going to propose a good clean up of my town, take it up with our mayor, do my bit, watch this space.

R. Chircop

Aug 26th 2008, 17:42

Dumping has been taking place for so many years at upper Bugibba road near Porto Bello restaurant. People take out their garbage bags and other litter at any time of the day and place it next to the three telephone boxes there. Hope that this litter and dumbing enforcement operation would be continous and those not stop after a short time.
A different enforcement operation, this time on indoor smoking did not have the desired success as smoking is rampant in prohibited areas.

Franco Farrugia

Aug 26th 2008, 17:00

@ Catherine Bonnici - Now, let's just not exaggerate, shall we? It's all fine for your to live in splendid, spacious Canada while we, the locals, continue to trudge on, living on this rock!!!! it is impossible to do anything with the domestic 'rubbish' here in Malta, impossible to keep 'rubbish' inside the house especially in the hot summer months! In Canada, you have other ways. So, we're here talking of two different worlds.

Visit us however much you like, but you have left the country, remember that! It is OUR beautiful gem island!

D.Vella

Aug 26th 2008, 16:18

Time now to check individual households/garages for illegal boreholes which are probably more responsible than anything else for the desalinesation of our water table. This is a very serious problem which is not,as far as I can see, given the importance it deserves.

I know of people who have had to give up using their spring water because it was killing the plants.

FAA/environmentalists how about some pressure?

joe mizzi

Aug 26th 2008, 15:20

maltese laws should be more than just a fine,,,,, the offenders should clean the place with the press taking all the photos to be printed ,,,, the offender will have to pay for the space that is printed in the news paper too. including the fine.. JUST make some examples with these dirty offenders.... oh how i wish that i a am a minister for the inviroment... and i will show no pity whoever dirty our streets... SHOW NO MERCY ...........

Luke Buttigieg

Aug 26th 2008, 14:35

After around 16 years of complaining to everyone from a simple local council member to the prime minister himself, it is ABOUT TIME that something is finally happening. Malta is disgustingly filthy and I will not believe that these cleansing exercises are actually happening until the field in the upper part of St. George's street in Gzira is cleaned. I'm going to give the hotline a try and see if anything comes out of it...will let you know what happens!

catherine bonnici

Aug 26th 2008, 14:25

Its about time that someone has taking the intiative to keep Malta clean... educating and enforcing fines is very important to keep Malta clean. I am really disgusted at anyone throwing an litter on the streets.
Educatating through media is a bonus, but you also need to follow through with
the enforcment. There should be restrictions as when to take out your rubbish.
I live in Toronto and each community has clean up day twice a year organized by local
residents. Also as one had mentioned before you need bigger bins and more bins
in some area where it high tourist attractions ie Sliema, and one should wash out bins
when it gets really dirty and smelly.

I will be visiting Malta this September and I a looking forward to the this positive change
to out Beautiful Gem Island Of Malta.

Catherine Bonnici.

martin saliba

Aug 26th 2008, 13:48

how can you catch people red handed if you send plain clothed wardens in a marked car 6 meters from the dumping site on one day and then send a unifrmed male warden on his motorbike and a female uniformed warden in her car 5 meters away from the dumping site?
Also 300 fines in two weeks from the whole of Malta is pathetic. The authorities should have come down like a ton of bricks on everyone. People only learn and spread the word when it hits their pockets. I could have coolected the 300 fines myself from just one spot.

Vanessa Azzopardi

Aug 26th 2008, 13:48

Very typical Malta to come up with a new law without providing the necessary things for it to work. I would love to be able to throw my cigarette end or empty packet of crisps into a bin while walking down the street. However, no bins are ever in sight when you need them. If Malta wants to bring a new law into affect to bear down hard on litterbugs, there should be some thought put into it before. Not impressed...

Nicky Camilleri

Aug 26th 2008, 13:32

I think that implementing controls in this respect is a very positive thing for our Country and it's environment. On the other hand I cannot understand why I got fined € 58, for disposing plastic and glass bottles in the Naxxar bring-in site. It might sound funny, but I received a fine with photos of myself disposing bottles in the appropriate skip. In this regard, I tend to disagree with the statement that this is not a money making initiative, as I was fined for disposing bottles in the correct manner.

Joseph E Briffa

Aug 26th 2008, 13:28

Well done and keep it up! This should be an ongoing exercise..and bdw doesn't the law state that if you are caught red - handed dumping rubbish your vehicle will be confiscated? It would be interesting to hear from the pertinent authorities whether any vehicles have been confiscated!

Jeremy Lanfranco

Aug 26th 2008, 13:26

How about paying a visit to Psaila Street close to the fried chicken shop on a Saturday evening. Patrons eat their fried chicken in their car and also on the steps of private residences and leave a mess of chicken bones and soft drink cartons for us to clean up on Sunday morning.

A Saliba

Aug 26th 2008, 13:21

It's high time for authorities like Dr. Chris Said to realise that "that enforcement works". Everyone knows that our country is one of laws and regulations but no or very little enforcement. Hope such a measure will be sustained.

Alexander Cortis

Aug 26th 2008, 12:53

Well done, Government!
At last something seems to have started being done. It's an excellent way to make money for the govt's coffers - and maybe reduce the electricity surcharge or keep the money in a special fund to pay for other environmental projects?
While they're at it, why not start a similar scheme for exhaust emissions (if vehicles smoke, there must be something wrong and an on-the-spot fine is warranted).
What about noise-polluters too?
Loud stereos in cars; vehicles honking fog-horns; cars with doctored exhausts that make them sound like supersonic planes, etc!
Just think of all that extra money; less air and noise pollution eventually; and a more civil society (one would hope!).
It'll all pay for recruitment of more wardens with specific duties to clamp down on such abuses and also increase employment. A Government's dream!
The main thing is to stick with it and not let the scheme peter out, like most schemes in Malta which all seem to end up dying an unnatural death with everything going back to former poor standards - e.g. smoking in public!

N. Balzan

Aug 26th 2008, 12:51

Why not have a warden in Luret Vella Street, Zebbug, on Friday and Saturday nights? that is, if they can withstand the stench...

A Lennon

Aug 26th 2008, 12:27

Very well done! I have just returned home from spending the summer in your beautiful country and the litter that I saw in many places was very bad. It is good to see the problem being tackled. But you do need to educate the people to the problems as well..... It is just a pity that the authorities are so negligent when it comes to the pitiful, arrogant and bad mannered driving that is practiced by at least 25% of the Maltese population!

Joseph Galea

Aug 26th 2008, 12:14

Good work - although this should have been ongoing for at least the past decade. But as another correspondent said -'better late than never.' Hopefully, this will continue and increased. Julian Borg Barthet also has an excellent proposal - besides the fines, impose community service - a few hours collecting litter in a prominent location. Naming and shaming is often more effective than a few Euro fine.

Henry A. Grima

Aug 26th 2008, 12:06

When are they coming to Marsaskala?
On the front we can see empty bottles and discarded pizza and takeaway containers all around the benchesespecially on week ends. Visitors to Marsaskala should learn to respect the locals and keep Marsaskala clean.
Even local residents are to blame; Triq l-Skal is littered with rubbish bags left out from as early as 6pm for collection next morning.
Irresponsible youths, late evenings, make a mess on the church parvis, even using it as a latrine. Evidence of drug abuse were sometimes very evident.
It seems that some poeple do not have doors ; the corner of Triq Qrempuc c/w Triq Gebel Hanxul is being used as a rubbish bag collection point by the residents of the cul-de-sac.
Besides being unsightly, when the truck comes late in the day, other people can smell other peoples rubbish. NIMBY, or rather 'not on my front door'.
I hope that this not another flash in the pan!!
People will not learn unless fines are imposed.

Y.Hesselman

Aug 26th 2008, 12:03

This is good news, only if it will also be enforced in the long term. And not just by 2 officers.. Let's see...

Jonathan de Maria

Aug 26th 2008, 11:52

This is a good start! We need more litter bins all over Malta though, especially the heavily frequented pedestrian areas and these should be emptied at regular intervals each day since exisiting litter bins are often full.

Rather than just dishing out fines we need to provide an alternative to walking around with a handful of rubbish. We also need to ensure that public areas are properly swept and cleaned often and regularly.

I suggest we consider employing the many able-bodied illegal immigrants (in exchange for their accommodation, food and drink and maybe a small fee) to sweep, clean and in general keep Malta and Gozo tidy. This would give them something positive to do rather than just sit around in the sun and enjoy their all-expenses-paid holiday in Malta.

These immigrants should also be employed in a like fashion to help with the upkeep of public buildings (the shutters, windows and doors of which need a fresh coat of paint) and the upkeep and continued cleanliness of public toilets.

Another point; what about the large amounts of smelly excriment left by horses all round Valletta? - Are the horses' owners being fined for littering too?

Peter Sinclair

Aug 26th 2008, 11:51

mmm.....Sliema....well, more bins, bins with full size bucktes inside, not old paint cans or whatever they are using and more collections, then the bins will be less full all the time and people will be able to put rubbish in them...that is for those that can be bothred to stand up from the benches and walk the half dozen paces to dump thier pizza boxes, hamburger cartons or drink cups........what times does the enforcement take place??? Are people immune after 6pm??? I don't know...just asking

J.Galea

Aug 26th 2008, 11:51

What about those households who takes the garbage out on saturdays afternoon for the whole weekend ,then to be collected on late monday morning.
When once i pointed this out to one female household owner ,her answer was that as long as it's outside her home ,it really does not concern her!!!
Today even her married daughter who lives at a nearby street, is just doing the same.
As the saying goes ... your child's education begins at home.
Reders who makes this kind of act, please take note.

Glorianne Pace

Aug 26th 2008, 11:39

Yes please do remember Birzebbuga, particularly Qajjenza where the green area has taken on new hues... and they're not flowers!

mario mifsusd

Aug 26th 2008, 11:38

Wil th The Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs take actions against itself for littering in fields near Hagar Qim when building the promenade?

victor vella

Aug 26th 2008, 11:31

This is a serious call for help. Can anyone seriously tell me which govermant agency is responsable for garages /workshops , Behind my house there is a carpenter and a car workshop both using spray, this morning for instance I was woken up with a stench of spray coming into my bedroom,can any one help. and please dont mention the police.

Manuel Mifsud

Aug 26th 2008, 11:30

Well done but please keep it up!

According to Dr Said the operation was highly successful and within a few days the number of contraventions in the monitored areas dropped drastically. That is fantastic news but I wonder how long it will take us to be back to square one.

Let's have a permanent enforcement Division as Dr. Said promised. I'm afraid, once people become more disciplined and consequently pay less fines, this initiative will die a natural death. We had these operations many times before but they only lasted a few weeks. One problem is that when an election is approaching, and we have them, at least, once a year, the authorities tend to relax and become less strict fearing that votes will be lost in the process. I consider this to be short sightedness since many more votes could be lost if the islands are filthy. The vast majority of us are simply fed up of seeing rubbish everywhere!

Joseph Micallef

Aug 26th 2008, 11:23

Can anyone tell me what happened to the Green Warden scheme - or was I dreaming that such a scheme was ever introduced? I mean if it were introduced then why this new scheme? And if it were introduced why didn't anyone say that it was stopped or why it was stopped or when? Do such things fizzle out as if nothing ever was here? Some explanation from the authorities is needed I believe!

albert leone ganado

Aug 26th 2008, 11:09

It would be interesting to know how many of the fiines are related to owners of dogs who make a mess in our streets. It is almost impossible to take a walk at night at Balzan without stepping onthat dreaded dog poo whose smell persists on your shoes for months.

OFTEN STAID AND SERIOUS CITIZENS SEEMS TO FORGET THEIR CIVIC DUTIES WHEN IT COMES TO THE NEEDS OF THEIR DOGS.

If wardens had to follow dog walkers in detective Closeau style I am certain that they would fulfill their fine ticket quota and give some respite to frivolous fines on car owners.

Frank Calleja

Aug 26th 2008, 11:08

Is there a telephone number we can call to blow the whistle on persons seen littering and dumping? That would make enforcement much easier.

C Damato

Aug 26th 2008, 10:59

Such an exersice must be carried out in BIRZEBBUGA for example. You will surely be able to make double the number of fines mentioned in less time!

Its a complete mess down there!

Joanne Micallef

Aug 26th 2008, 10:56

Great initiative, though looking around the Sliema area it is clearly nowhere near enough. Inspectors need to be doubled at least for the first few months until the dirty buggers get a very much needed culture shock, hopefully after they get used to disposing of their rubbish in an adequate manner we will all enjoy our cleaner surroundings.

Robert P Galea

Aug 26th 2008, 10:53

....and obviously we'll keep the enforcement going as is being done so efficiently with the smoking ban

john fenech

Aug 26th 2008, 10:31

Every initiative to maintain a clean environment must be applauded, Mr. Said you know and we know for a fact that only reinforcement works, for instance have a look at the beach from the-Tower to il-Fortizza, this is the canine lavatory. Do you ever see any wardens in these areas, part of the blame is the local council and the major culprits are the dog owners.

So for this event to be meaningful it has to be sustained all the year round in a disciplined manner. We who take care not to litter are frustrated that the minority are make our Islands one big rubbish dump with total disregard to the law and rendering an appalling image of our Nation!

Suggest that the receipt bins near the ATM will be emptied frequently; likewise the bins along the promenades have to be emptied at least twice daily, especially in the summer months.

Karen Cacciattolo

Aug 26th 2008, 10:13

This is a very good initiative! This exercise needs to be carried out in San Gwann, we have been making loads of complaints to the local council there about people dumping all sorts of rubbish such as sauce pans, broken plastic chairs, torn cushions, broken electric fans, etc, etc, in the middle of a pedestrian area.

Pierre Giusti

Aug 26th 2008, 10:08

It's about time! Great. Lets hope this really is a permanent affair with even heavier fines for the minor offenses so that the message really gets through. I have been saying for ages that only proper fines will solve the issue and teach the public. The idea of community service is also a good idea that might be applied to repeat offenders that don't seem to get the message.

Cameras will definitely catch untold numbers of people throwing garbage out of their windows, so go on and cover malta with cameras as it will well be worth the effort. Though collecting money should not a reason for the enforcement, it's obvious that the money collected can be put towards enhancing the enforcement further.

Malta is a gem of an island and this will bring out its true beauty......................just wait and see what a difference it will also make in tourist arrivals l, which will then fill alot of these offenders bank accounts with more money anyway! People go on holiday to have fun and see beautiful places. Nowhere can be called beautiful if it is filthy.

Lets all finally be able to appreciate the true beauty of our country.

Chris Darmanin

Aug 26th 2008, 10:07

very well done!

what malta needs also is wardens that monitor beaches for illegal barbecues (ie without a bbq set) made on the rocks or sand and leave a mess behind and also damage the rocks where the fire was

Paul Barrett

Aug 26th 2008, 10:06

This is an excellent start to a campaign that really must be continued. The idea of community service is also worth considering "ask anything of me but time" - money can be replaced, time cannot.
Whilst we are at it, it would be worth enforcing the law on covering trucks carrying loose material - the current dish cloth used by many truck drivers is just a joke. Rubbish trucks should also be fined for moving without having first compressed their rubbish and thus have rubbish spilling out of the back of the truck.
Additionally, whoever is contracted to clear the general rubbis skips as well as the glass, plastic, tin and paper sorting bins should be instructed to clear up the surrounding area of the bins when emptying them and not leave the bins sitting in an area of rubbish spilt from the bins.
Every little bit helps but it only takes one or two who do not care or are to lazy to spoil the efforts of everyone else.

emanuel bajada

Aug 26th 2008, 10:03

No Sir, money is not made from fines, money is made from the telphone company by having you repeatedly phoning the mepa hotline 20699595 in vain. There is only on guarantee: no action will be taken if the offender is more equal than others.
Tue 16th I phoned this number reporting someone sanding down the walls (invjar) on a construction site at least 3 times. I dared the person taking my report that no action will be taken and so it was. Nothing happened this work carried on wed and thurs till it was ready with the result of all our street, balconies, cars covered with a carpet of dust a cm high. By the way which we had to clean like we had been doing since works started. Besides we had to stay with our windows shut for 3 days. Mind you my area is a touristic area, but this is not important tourist like seeing this big cloud of dust!!

"Enforcement works"!!! This is only a PR excersie, a joke.

Stephen Vassallo

Aug 26th 2008, 10:03

"Enforcement works" says Dr. Said. Of course it does, and most of us have been pleading for this for a long time. We are fed up of irresponsible selfish louts messing up our islands and getting away with it. Any fines should reflect the value of money today, not of 50 years ago. Education is great, but hitting the pocket is what makes people obey the laws. Can we hope that more areas will be targeted and an all-year (not just a few weeks) programme of enforcement set up.

J.A. Agius

Aug 26th 2008, 10:01

Good but not Excellent. We would like MUCH MORE enforcement on the big guys, the developers who contravene the laws and pollute our air.

Alfred Vella

Aug 26th 2008, 10:00

The article talked about bring in sites for every 400 houses. Can anybody enlighten me where exactly the bring in sites are in Rabat Malta? There are loads more than 4oo houses there. Are there any bring in sites????
Rabat resident.

louise vella

Aug 26th 2008, 09:57

"Enforcement works" said the Parliamentary Secretary and, indeed, it does. If there is a political will to enforce a law, it can be enforced. Can the Government now enforce the law which prohibits the illegal employment of foreign individuals?

Clive Brockdorff

Aug 26th 2008, 09:47

An interesting development - hopefully it's the first step towards turning Malta into a cleaner, more civilised country.
As I have noted before, one area which is crying out for this sort of exercise is the Tal-Qroqq/University Street area of Msida - a few fines would work wonders!

Gianluca Farrugia

Aug 26th 2008, 09:41

Enforcement.......ABOUT TIME!

M. Tabone

Aug 26th 2008, 09:37

Finally enforcement on littering has come! Better late than never as they say but pls tell me why in Malta things are done roughly 20 years late compared to other civilised countries? In the meantime Malta got a reputation of being a nice but dirty Island!!!

Daniel Bonello

Aug 26th 2008, 09:33

While I fully support any initiative in keeping our country clean and respectible for our own sake, I also encourage authorities in helping the general public being more cooperative.

My personal judgement is that there are not enough bins in public areas and beaches.

In my eyes this is a challenge and an apportunity, for Government and the general public alike, to jointly make Malta a better place.

Let us all commit to this common goal.

Julian Borg Barthet

Aug 26th 2008, 09:25

I think this is fantastic... as fantastic as the first time they tried to enforce the littering issue.

Let's introduce another spin on this, how about community service as a fine? 4 hours of scraping gum off the bottom of park benches should stop them from littering again. Time and humiliation is a far better punishment then a financial burden.

alfred sacco

Aug 26th 2008, 09:22

Enforcement is not easy, but at least we are trying. However, publicity campaigns on all media should have preceded the present drive for adherence to the law; and the provision of more bins where to dispose of litter (a case in point is the area in front of Luqa airport terminal, near the benches opposite the arrivals and departures entrances). Otherwise, Dr.Said's initiative should be recommended.

N.Azzopardi

Aug 26th 2008, 09:20

This enforcement should also be applicable on who is reponsible for emptying the litter bins around the Gzira and Sliema seafront. These bins should be replaced by bigger ones, that can take the demand, and should be emptied and cleaned more often. On weekend its disgusting walking on these seafronts and seeing all these litter bins full and a mount of rubbish underneath them.

E. Serracino-Inglott

Aug 26th 2008, 09:12

Good that finally these laws are being enforced. I hope that the enforcement will not take place a few weeks per year but that it is going to be an ongoing process so that hopefully soon we will be enjoying a clean Malta!

Alfred Grech

Aug 26th 2008, 09:11

That's good news and hope the public will learn how to keep this country clean.

I suggest that more waste bins with ashtrays be placed in busy areas. Many times, ashtrays are not found anywhere and one has to extinguish his cig and then dump it which can cause fire.

Cleaner Malta will be the pride of all of us.

Francois Spiteri

Aug 26th 2008, 09:06

"This is not a temporary exercise... we now want to increase the momentum," ... let's hope so.. or will it be stopped after a couple of weeks... we all remember what happen 3 years ago.

P.S. why not send a plain clothes warden near the Rabat (Malta) primary school... rubbish is pilled up in corners both in front of the school and also behind (triq San patrizju)... less than 500 meters away from the catacombs.