Minister 'frustrated' as dumping continues in valleys

Resources Minister George Pullicino expressed frustration today over how people continued to dump bulky refuse in newly-cleaned valleys, undermining clearance work done over the summer.

He was speaking at Wied Il-Kbir in Qormi, where he highlighted clearance work carried out by his ministry in eight valleys to prevent rainwater flooding.  

The clearance work was carried out by the Valley Management Unit, which removed 20,000 tons of natural and man-made materials in Chadwick Lakes and other valleys around or near Attard, Zebbug, Siggiewi, Qormi and Burmarrad.

Most of the work was done manually in order not to disturb the natural environment. Eight reservoirs with a total capacity of 4m gallons were also cleaned. 

It was very frustrating, Mr Pullicino said, that within days of the work having been completed, mattresses, washing machines and other large refuse was again dumped in the valley, even though Malta had a bulky refuse service which collected items door-to-door free of charge and people could also use the civic amenity centres.

He said the cleaning of valleys would continue, as far as possible, throughout the year.