Following the unfounded claims by the Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises – GRTU regarding costs of waste collection in Żejtun, it is pertinent to point out that it is totally incorrect to claim that the €233 daily council estimate for the door-to-door collection is “lower than the price paid by the council 10 years ago”. In truth, it is higher by €96 a day. In 2001, it was €127 per day.

Maybe the GRTU is confusing this with the bins-on-wheels collection, which from €110 daily in 1999 has been gradually reduced to €107 daily in spite of continuous rising costs. Thanks to the asides of the GRTU, the secret of financially sound management practices in Żejtun are now public knowledge.

Over the years a campaign to contain and eventually reduce waste, reduce the number of bins-on-wheels yet more or less covering the same area – a highly successful waste separation campaign which, since March has resulted in a 130 per cent increase in separated waste – and the continuous cooperation of the bins-on-wheels contractor maligned by the GRTU have all helped to achieve this result.

If containing costs is sinful in the eyes of those who have a vested interest in inflating prices, for the mayor and councillors of Żejtun this is a commendable achievement. Despite the continual harassment we will carry on along this righteous path no matter what.