Valletta local council unveils operation clean up for Notte Bianca

The Valletta local council is pledging to intensify its cleaning campaign for this year’s Notte Bianca after 25 tonnes of rubbish were collected in one night last year.

The council organised a three-phase clean up system that would start before the event, with an early collection of rubbish for businesses and restaurants at noon, Valletta mayor Alexiei Dingli said yesterday.

Throughout the event, small teams of people will empty bins and clear up rubbish. The major clean-up will take place after midnight, once the main events are over. “By 8 a.m. on Sunday, people won’t even realise there was a Notte Bianca the night before,” Dr Dingli promised.

Nonetheless, he encouraged people to use the bins scattered around the city and not to litter.

Valletta will be closed to vehicles at 5 p.m. on Saturday and only residents with parking permit issued by the council will be able to drive through.

Peter Busuttil, one of the organisers, appealed to the public to use Valletta’s five entrances, other than City Gate.

He urged people to wear white, in line with the night’s theme colour, and to use public transport. Those who use their car should park as far away from Valletta as possible to ease the amount of traffic, he said.

An effort was made to open locations that were not usually accessible to the public, Tourism Parliamentary Secretary Mario de Marco said, pointing out among the highlights of this year’s edition, a guided tour around Castille’s underground vaults.

Also, the market place in Merchants Street will give visitors the opportunity to try and get a feel of the weather conditions on Mount Everest, he said. The three Maltese men, Greg Attard, Marco Cremona and Robert Gatt, who conquered the peak will also be there.

Just like the previous four editions, entrance to all museums and activities will be free.

The public transport service will run after usual hours and tickets will cost €1.16 each. The Park and Ride service will run as usual.

Inspire, the charity foundation, will offer free transport around Valletta, starting from Ordnance Street, for the elderly and people with a disability.

The Gozo Channel ferry will operate according to schedule and a ferry service from Sliema and Vittoriosa to Valletta will also be available.