Newly installed charcoal bins at Ghadira stolen

A number of new charcoal bins installed at Ghadira beach over the past weekend have already been stolen, Resources Minister George Pullicino complained today.

He was speaking at Ghadira where he explained that the beach cleaning system had been reformed.

He said the old waste bins are being replaced by sets of grey and green wheelie bins, the former for recyclable materials and the other for the remaining waste.

Mr Pullicino said the new bins were installed at Ghadira last week, but many people still threw their litter in the sand, despite having not more than 15m to walk to the nearest bin.

The minister said the beaches have been placed in three categories.

Class A blue-flagged beaches such as Bugibba, Ghadira, St George's Bay, Pretty Bay and Golden Sands are being cleaned between 6 a.m., and 6 p.m. by uniformed beach cleaners.

Class B beaches such as Armier, Gnejna and Mistra will be cleaned twice a day and the others once a day, because they are less popular.

Mr Pullicino said his ministry is also replacing other beach funiture and installing 140 new beach ladders.

The ministry had collected some 8,000 tons of algae from the beaches over the past weeks.