Antoine Grech, San Ġwann
Skips’ removal penalises citizens
I would really love to know who in the local council of San Ġwann had the bright idea of removing all the rubbish skips from the locality. What on earth were these guys thinking? What sort of excuse is the following: “The skips were removed because some individuals were leaving rubbish outside the skips when these were found full or some others were burning them to ash”?
So, instead of actually increasing the number of skips to accommodate more rubbish and installing CCTV cameras on site to catch the culprits burning them, the council removes all the skips. It is not actually penalising the culprits but every other law-abiding citizen in the locality.
Does the council not realise that whoever was breaking the law will continue doing so by throwing rubbish wherever they deem fit, including the valleys that San Ġwann is surrounded by? By the council’s reasoning we should do away with every piece of street furniture since some individuals vandalise them quite frequently. Also, maybe we should do away with kitchen utensils since these are also used by some individuals to commit crimes.
I have a big problem with the new system. Like many others I work mostly evening and nights and as such, can’t wake up early enough in the morning just to throw away the rubbish. Also, it’s not really possible to enjoy a nice fish for dinner on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays since rubbish would be collected two days after, resulting in a fishy stench all over the apartment for those days since you can’t get rid of the rubbish until they come to collect it.
The elections for this locality cannot come early enough. I hope whoever had this bright idea comes knocking on my door so I can give them a piece of my mind. I will vote for whoever promises to bring back the skips and actually increase their number from what it was when they were removed.
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Antoine Grech
Feb 22nd, 17:06
@ A Padovani
You make some valid points but just because you are comfortable the way it is now doesn't mean it's good or convenient in anyway. My point is that rubbish disposal should be accessible at all times in one way or another. I just cannot wake up so early in the morning to dispose of my rubbish. Thank God my neighbours are kind enough to help out from time to time, but I hate to inconvenience others because of this.
The reason why people from other villages used to dispose of their rubbish in the skips that were found in San Gwann was because the skips in their villages were not enough or not accessible (apart from the usual disrespectful idiots of course). As it is now, I also have to make use of other villages' skips, but it's not ideal for everyone. That we are better off without the skips is just your opinion and just as there are many who would agree with you, there are many who agree with me.
Another solution would be to at least increase the number of times rubbish collection takes place, and also at different times of the day. Than yes, I would agree with the removal of the skips. But, I'm sorry, as it is now, it is utterly stupid and ridiculous!
A Padovani
Feb 22nd, 15:13
@ Antoine Grech
I do live in San Gwann, in a street where for a number of years no less than four skips were situated within a stretch of a hundred metres. They would always be overflowing by morning, partly because of residents from other localities coming to dump their rubbish there. True they were placed in front of undeveloped plots, but this only served to attract the rats, and some day these plots are bound to be developed any way. And then what?
Other skips were situated in main roads and populated areas (e.g. a few yards away from HSBC, or the main square), with all the problems I have mentioned below.
Mr Zammit's contribution only serves to illustrate my point...We are better off with no skips at all, as wherever they are placed, they will be a nuisance to somebody.
I believe that San Gwann is better off now that it is no longer peppered by mini rubbish dumps scattered throughout its streets.
I appreciate that their removal may be of inconvenience to some, but when making such assertions as 'Skip Removals Penalises Citizens', please speak for yourself, and not in my name.
Lucienne Dimech
Feb 22nd, 14:12
There is still one opposite the side entrance of the russian embassy.
Charles Zammit
Feb 22nd, 13:45
@ A Padovani . Good thinking skips in Birzebbuga have also been removed from some places . One site at the top of St Angelo Street near fields was removed and it was not behind anybodys door , but now skips have been placed by the School wall . I suppose children are immune !!
A Padovani
Feb 22nd, 10:42
Sorry to disagree, Mr Grech.
Skips are unsightly, constituting an eyesore. They tend to stink, attracting rats and insects thus also providing a health hazard. Nobody in his right mind would want to have a skip situated behind his front door.
I, for one, wholeheartedly applaud the San Gwann Council's decision to remove these skips.
Antoine Grech
Feb 22nd, 12:00
Mr Padovani, do you live in San Gwann or in a locality which has adopted the same procedure? If not, I suggest you think a bit about it. I understand that skip locations can be unsightly, but if they are taken care of they shouldn't be that way. Also I never suggested they should be placed anywhere near anyone's house, I'm sure there are places in each locality that are ideal to accomodate skips and kept tidy.
As I said in my letter, the people who have actually 'suffered' from this decision are actually those who abide by the law and not the culprits. The latter are still around throwing their mess where they please, including other people's doors.
Simon Robinson
Feb 22nd, 15:13
Mr Padovani, surely its better to have one point on a street where rubbish is collected as opposed to having rubbish infront of each and every residence on the street? Especially so, when every building on the street is a block of apartments leading to piles of rubbish blocking pavements