Eyesores such as bulky metal objects and abandoned cars littering the roads and countryside will soon start being exported for recycling.
With the help of the local councils and the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said is determined to clean up the streets and countryside from bulky metal objects such as abandoned cars, containers or illegal scrap heap by April.
A task force set up between Mepa, the police and the wardens, estimated there were some 4,000 unused vehicles and cumbersome metal items abandoned in the roads and the countryside.
The campaign, which started in the second week of November, was already hailed a success by residents and councils.
However, Dr Said pointed out that the campaign did not only target vehicles abandoned in public places, but included huge metal items, such as boats or containers.
Councils were informing Dr Said's secretariat of any abandoned vehicles in their locality, and this information is then passed on to Mepa enforcement officers who attach warnings on the items.
The warnings inform owners that the abandoned object has to be removed within 16 days. If it is not removed, it will be confiscated and sent abroad for recycling.
The campaign was first tested in three localities: Xgħajra, Żurrieq and Mellieħa.
After three weeks, around 60 per cent of the scrap metal was cleaned up. Following 31 warnings issued in Żurrieq, 23 sites were cleaned. Similarly, in Mellieħa, 28 out of 53 sites were cleaned.
Dr Said said that three councils reported back that the residents were extremely satisfied with the results. Following the success of the pilot project, another six councils have been included: Nadur, Qala, St Paul's Bay, Mġarr, Safi and Qrendi.
Dr Said explained that the scrap, which has not yet been collected, will be confiscated and exported for recycling in the first week of January - a call for expressions of interest to export the scrap has been issued. Interested bidders must have the required licence to export scrap metal for recycling.
"By April, we aim to clean all Malta and Gozo of all the eyesores lying around," said Dr Said.
He appealed to the public to report any abandoned large metal items to their councils. Owners who wish to dispose of bulky metal objects can do so by calling 2360 5000 or 8007 6608.