Thursday, 18th September 2008
Crackdown on littering proves successful
The government's crackdown on littering and dumping has been extended with various projects, enforcement programmes and events planned including a three-day national clean-up at the end of October.
The Times yesterday visited the control room of Aurelia Asset Protection Ltd, the company subcontracted by Mepa to monitor bring-in sites through CCTV cameras. These cameras, operating in 15 localities, catch people red-handed when misusing the bring-in sites.
The number plates of every car are recorded so that if an individual is caught doing something illegal, Mepa can issue the fines accordingly.
If 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, a warning is issued instead. This is the case also when individuals leave boxes or bags behind after separating the waste diligently.
Matthew Formosa, a spokesman for the company, said that sometimes these sites are used for illegal dumping. Bulky objects, animal carcasses and ordinary household garbage bags are often dumped, creating eyesores that discourage local councils from having more bring-in sites.
The company, which forms part of the JF security group, also supplies Mepa enforcement officers with training, equipment, and vehicles, apart from coordinating the inspections of construction sites. These inspectors ensure that the right tools are used and that the sites are secured properly in order to guarantee safety and stop dust from flying all over the place and disturbing neighbours.
Mepa reported that since the crackdown was launched there had been about 4,000 inspections and reports, 328 of which resulted in fines being issued. Public Dialogue and Information Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said, who is spearheading the crackdown by coordinating policemen, Mepa officers and local wardens, in a bid to enforce the Litter Act, that enforcement is working. A total of 680 fines and 170 warnings were issued between August 20 and September 11.
He disclosed that plans were in place to tie littering fines to the renewal of driving licences so that offenders would be forced to pay up.
"We have been educating the public for a long time. Now it is time to enforce. We believe the law needs to be a deterrent. We should keep our streets clean just like we keep our homes clean," Dr Said argued.
He applauded the public for cooperating by reporting defaulters. Even comments posted on www.timesofmalta.com were being taken heed of and every report was being inspected. The government was now considering upping the fines so as to further deter people from littering.
"The experiment worked. It will now continue and be developed into a long-term strategy," he said.
A three-day clean-up is being planned for the October 23- 25. Each day a number of volunteers, including school children, employees of various companies, NGOs, organisations and the public, will clean up problem areas to raise more awareness about the issue.
Dr Said also said that the government was planning an intense media campaign for the autumn schedule which would feature videos of clean-ups taking place as well as before-and-after clips.
See also: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20080918/local/mepa-steps-up-monitoring-of-building-sites and http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20080917/local/cctvs-monitoring-bring-in-sites
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Mepa reported that since the crackdown was launched there had been about 4,000 inspections and reports, 328 of which resulted in fines being issued. Public Dialogue and Information Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said, who is spearheading the crackdown by coordinating policemen, Mepa officers and local wardens, in a bid to enforce the Litter Act, that enforcement is working. A total of 680 fines and 170 warnings were issued between August 20 and September 11.
Which are the correct figures? Or is one added to the other? Fines 680+328;& 170 warnings.
Luckily there happened to be the owner of a bar in the vicinity and he beckoned me over to throw away my garbage in his bin; he was the last open outlet and he was in the process of closing. He told me that some days before they removed all public garbage bins from the area and installed CCTVs on the walls surrounding the old universita'. He also told me that people including tourists were leaving their garbage by the sides since they were not able to find any garbage bins. They were then being immediately intercepted by inspectors in civilian clothes and fined accordingly. The owner also told me that "sometime" in the future the council was planning to install new bins......
Shame on the authorities concerned !
Michael Darmanin
Next Law----Heavy fines on those who think that the pavement is their dog's latrine??
Confetti are not only thrown in Malta Ingrid.
I hope you are not one of those persons who takes their dog out to use other peoples property as their pets public convenience.
In the past we use to see the occasional road sweeping vehicle that vacuums the dirt and dust while sweeping, what happened to these vehicles????
It would be nice to start seeing them in action again.
A large truck parked in independence avenue has filled the area with oil.
It looks that no surveillance is being done at Mosta on those people who take out their dogs at night or early morning.
Both are disgraceful, but which is the most? For the authorities the later is punished not the former. Dogs are not subject to any laws or regulations, their owners are. Try and find the owners of roaming dogs!
However, I wonder if the law enforcement agents are keen on fining organisations such as local feast comitees for littering? Do they fine people throwing confetti from balconies which confetti adornes the streets for weeks and weeks.
One thing I noticed is that the concrete bricks used for fireworks on the pier under peppi's restaurant during the feast of St gregory where just disposed off in the sea littering the seabed. Has action been taken against the comitee responsable for cleaning up after the feast. Has anybody been fined for this outrage? I doubt it.!
Without wanting to sound like a wet blanket, however, when is the competent authority going to do something about littering of our roads and streets and particularly when is tough action going to be taken against dog owners who do not clean up their pets' droppings during their daily constitutional? The number of people simply throwing away cigarette packs, snack wrappers etc either whilst walking or driving is amazing. Considering how clean we Maltese consider ourselves to be at home, it is mind-boggling to see this level of littering in public. How about running a campaign similar to the one run by ADT against cars emitting exhaust fumes against those who throw cigarette packs, snack or candy wrappers out of their car windows when driving? I realise that this will not be a total solution but it could be another nail in the coffin of this national disgrace. Maybe one day, this ignorance will be stamped out once and for all.
Just for clarification, MEPA reported 328 fines while Mr.Chris Said indicated that 628 fines and 170 warnings were issued, which are the correct figures. Would it advantages to list what were the infringements, or if these are available on the MEPA or The Ministry of Environment web site?
SHAME on those who are trying to excuse the culprits through various comments suggesting that the authorities are carrying out this exercise simply to collect money. Do they approve of those misusing the bring-in sites by throwing bulky refuse or even dead animals in or around these containers? Only those who are guilty need worry that long awaited action is finally being taken to keep our islands as clean as possible. I am convinced that those who are objecting to these measures are the first to complain about the same rubbish caused by these culprits!
Keep it up, you have the support of the vast majority of the population who are fed up of all those who keep littering our beautiful islands.