The popular L-Aħrax camping site in Mellieħa was littered with used plastic cups, broken bottles and tin cans after campers ignored instructions to clean up after themselves.
Cyclist Tim Vella told Times of Malta the site was in such disarray that he thought it had recently hosted a concert.
“I was in L-Aħrax on Tuesday for my morning cycle and it was so filthy it looked like a music concert or festival had been held there the previous night. It was a dump site not a camp site,” he said.
Photos sent to this newspaper showed ripped bin bags and rubbish strewn across the picturesque campers’ haunt. Remnants of large bonfires and even mangled tents were also seen by passers-by.
Mellieħa mayor John Buttigieg said: “If I say there isn’t a problem I’d be lying. It has been ongoing for years despite us instructing campers to use the bins we provide.” Large refuse bins provided by the council had even been burnt in previous years, he said.
It was so filthy it looked like there had been a festival
The L-Aħrax area is separated into three camping sites operated by the Mellieħa local council which issues campers with a permit.
Mr Buttigieg said: “When you apply for a permit it’s written there black on white; you can’t destroy trees, make bonfires or leave a mess, but some choose to ignore this.” The council even provides a cleaning service for the area twice a week at a cost of more than €40,000 every year.
The service is not the only initiative. Earlier this month a large stretch of the woodland was tidied up as part of the international environmental clean-up campaign, Let’s Do It. The hunters’ lobby has also been known to pitch in with a cleaning session or two of their own.
Mr Buttigieg said the council could not afford to pay for wardens to ensure campers followed the rules.
He feels the solution rests with educating the public.
“We need to teach people not to do this, by creating more awareness. No one wants to come and find the place in such a mess so why leave it in a mess?” he said.