CCTVs monitoring bring-in sites
Surveillance cameras have been set up near 15 bring-in sites around Malta and Gozo to ensure that people who misuse the facilities are caught and fined.
The cameras are a MEPA initiative in partnership with Aurelia Asset Protection Ltd.
The number plates of every car which drives up to the bring-in sites are noted of so that if an individual is caught doing something illegal, evidence can be produced and a fine is issued.
“Bring-in sites have become very popular, but some people abuse by dumping various kinds of waste, including bulky items and animal carcasses near them. This is illegal, and those caught misusing the sites will now be fined through the monitoring system,” said Matthew Formosa a spokesman for Aurelia." (video above)
"Fines are issued straight away, unless there is some reason to believe that the contravention was unintentional, such as if separated waste is left next to the skips because they were already full up. If this is the case, the individuals concerned are contacted and told that if the skips are full up they should return later.
(Full story in The Times tomorrow)
22 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Joseph Schembri
Sep 24th 2008, 10:31
I will stop using bring in sites which are monitored by CCTV. Enough of my civil liberties have been taken away by this Big Brother mentality which is gripping Malta, and most of the Western World. I don't want to collaborate with people who are eroding my right to privacy.
I would also like to point out that our legislators should protect us from third parties monitoring our lives. A neighbour has installed night vision cameras surrounding his residence, through which he can also monitor my house. I don't want an outsider to have records of every little movement that my family makes outside our house.
M Xuereb
Sep 18th 2008, 10:12
Malta's first objective at this point should be to try and encourage more people to make the effort and separate their waste for eventual recycling. We are still way behind compared to other countries. Taking measures to ensure abusive practices are welcome, but let us tread with caution in order to ensure that those who are doing their penny's worth in helping the environment do not get discouraged from doing so. Being penalised for leaving separated waste next to overflowing bring-in sites is simply not on! It's enough of an effort to take bulky separated waste over to the bring-in sites; taking it all back home is a ridiculous suggestion and the argument shouldn't even have gone there. There is absolutely no excuse for bring-in sites to be full. On the contrary, the CCTV cameras should also be used to penalise the authorities who do not collect the waste regularly. That's their duty and they should see it done!
Charles Sammut
Sep 18th 2008, 09:05
The argument frequently used tp justify this ever encroaching invasion on privacy is that it is for the general good and that those who do not break the law have nothing to fear.
Yes, sure! Why not install CCTV in every household to make sure that there is no domestic violence. And since this government considers itself the epitome of transparency, cabinet meetings should be televised. Surely matters which are discussed in cabinet meetings are of public interest and surely governement never acts behind the public's back, so they have nothing to fear. Yes, sure!
Christian Abdilla
Sep 18th 2008, 09:02
CCTV's are a double-edged sword but I firmly believe that setting them up near bring-in sites is a good idea - unfortunately in Malta, some ppl still decide to stick to the rules only when there is a deterrent in place and to hell with all the education campaigns !!
D.Galea
Sep 18th 2008, 08:17
I don't see the logic in monitoring just to issue fines...basically its just a measure to make financial gain, good excuse nice try. Plus nobody is held accountable for the skips themselves, for ensuring to empty them before they get filled up for example. If you ask me & I'm sorry I don't buy it even if I might sound politically incorrect but I won't approach any of these sites under such system...if I may suggest an alternative system, lets distribute and/or sell packs of 3 colored bags each, adapt the trash vans with separate 3 compartments & such checks can be carried from the source, residences.
Vicki Soler
Sep 18th 2008, 08:13
Well done. Unless one has anything to hide, one should not be afraid of BIG BROTHER. If we all used the skips in a proper manner, then the CCTV cameras would not have been needed.
In other circumstances, BIG BROTHER
Joseph Arpa
Sep 18th 2008, 08:06
@Mr Edward Grech
Well said Mr Grech, I couldn't have thought of a more straight to the point comment myself!
Daniel Delia
Sep 18th 2008, 07:28
Yes, I agree with Noel Cutajar. We already have the experience of wardens issuing tickets blindly. It’s always up to the one receiving the contravention ticket to prove himself and get acquitted. And so will happen with the Bring in Sites CCTV. As it has been quoted, 'Fines will be issued strait away....' and I would say even if the actions of the Bring in site users does not come out clear on the CCTV screen, they would get a ticket.
Also I cannot see the Authorities phoning people up and advice them to return later if the skips are full. How long they will be doing it? One week maybe! It's a nice way of trying to sell the system to the public.
However, having said that, these are the results of the few misusing the Bring in Site facilities.
Joseph Attard
Sep 18th 2008, 07:27
Well done to MEPA and all involved. A camera at 'Triqil Fortizza Mosta bring in site would be enough to pay a hundred Environmental officers surveilling these cameras for contraventions. Two weeks ago someone dumped a full truck load of stone, paint tins, lime, and all sort of rubbish. This was Sunday evening and Waste serv in laison with MRRA had to be calledin to clean the mess. Catching someone through camera doing this, would be enough to start teaching everyone that this is our environment and we are committted in amny more ways then one to protect it. How about Local Councils in conjuction with such companies now being allowed to install these cameras ona private/LC agreement and fines from such irregularities going totally to the locality who will share with the operator .
Local Council would then pay Waste serv or an authorized waste carrier to remove any debris placed irregularly and make sure invoices for such work be kept so that culprits are made to pay double the costs of the expenses created minimally.
And one thing else, dont make this public just do it! And I wont comment about Big Brother issue ! Catch the culprits
Dennis Zammit
Sep 18th 2008, 06:19
If the skips are being monitored by CCTV, then the environment inspectors should know when they are full and therefore, should ensure that they are emptied regularly to prevent the possibility that the tax payers need to go another time to empty the trash.
Dave Alan Caruana
Sep 18th 2008, 00:30
there is a lesson to be learnt here ..
if you have carcasses, mattresses, etc. to dump,
avoid the bring in sites! ...
CLIFFORD VELLA
Sep 17th 2008, 23:26
What I saw strange once was that when the truck came to empty the bins, he mixed everything in the truck. I want to mean that he put glass,paper,tins ect ect in the same lot. Can someone give me an explanation of this?
F Bonello
Sep 17th 2008, 23:19
Now let us see if the contractors emptying the bins at the bring-in sites really empty different separated waste bins at the same time on the same truck!!!
E. Schembri
Sep 17th 2008, 22:03
Good measure....but Wasteserv should also take advantage.
Through the CCTV system, monitor the usage of skips in the bring in site, and be prompt to replace full and overflowing skips and maintain the cleanliness surrounding such skips. Eg. Today morning, the 'Glass' skip at the Pitkali (Ta' Qali) bring in site was full up.... half an hour later when again passing by, it was empty. Good service... BUT... the floor in front of the newly supplied empty 'glass' skip was littered with glass shards, broken botlles, including bottlenecks and dangerous jagged bottle ends. A real danger to anyone disposing of one's refuse. Cannot Wateserv instruct the service provider to have a broom handy and leave the area clean. I think that this is the ultimate aim of such sites.... real waste disposal and cleanliness.
Noel Cutajar
Sep 17th 2008, 21:22
Big brother is watching you!!! is this what we call freedom? Where there is the need for cameras they take years to be installed or are never installed. But when you have a system which generates income from contraventions, yes...we install them without any notice. Shame on you!!! What is left of our freedom has gone down the rubbish!! I am sorry because even our rubbish is being monitored...
Edward Grech
Sep 17th 2008, 21:07
“the individuals concerned are contacted and told that if the skips are full up they should return later”
Why should the skips be left to get full if they are monitored by CCTV cameras?
L Debono
Sep 17th 2008, 20:24
Great measures – well done. Too bad it took so long to establish a surveillance system but at least it's a step in the right direction.
It is good to see the public recycling and being environmentally conscious but on the other hand it is disgusting to see people abusing the system and throwing normal waste with recyclable material.
T Mifsud
Sep 17th 2008, 20:19
I am against of course illegal dumping at bring-in sites. I cannot stand the litter around the containers of these sites. BUT...publicizing this is doing more harm than good. Now you will have people who hold privacy as sacrosanct, that they will think it twice to go separating waste and using the bring-in sites because "when a vehicle approaches the bring-in site, we focus immediately on the number plate" with the CCTV.
Focus on the number plate IF a contravention is done, not before!.
Thank you but no thank you!
Paul Barrett
Sep 17th 2008, 19:54
I do hope that this sensible deterrent encourages people to dispose of their rubbish properly but fear that it may lead to more "fly tipping" on quite roads and in the little bit of countryside we have left.
Frans H Said
Sep 17th 2008, 19:40
Good show, this is what I have been demanding. Now I hope that MEPA will continue in certain hot spots, such as St Pauls' Bay and Bugibba. Details can be supplied on request
J. Fiorentino
Sep 17th 2008, 19:11
Good initiative. I am of course assuming that there will be someone observing monitors during the night when most contraventions are bound to take place. I also suggest that an intensive information campaign (not merely a news item) be used to inform the public about this novelty aa well as about the importance of NOT leaving any waste if skips are full. If the latter information has been properly passed to the public (why not have it clearly spelled out on site?) I suggest that fines be also issued to persons who do not comply.
Peter Carabott
Sep 17th 2008, 19:02
The only thing I don't agree with is that when the bring in sites are full up, I have to take the bags with me home and call back at another time. After going through the hassle of separating waste, the last thing I want is to go to the bring in sites and find them full up. Bring in sites should be emptied up more frequently. Probably if I find them full up what I will do is put all of my items in one bag and leave them in front of my door for trash collection.