The Valletta Local Council and the Cleansing and Maintenance Division have been making use of CCTV cameras in Republic Street to identify “culprits” who dump waste outside stipulated times.

Over 130 fines have been dished out in four months using the new system, the Cleansing and Maintenance director Ramon Deguara said.

A total of 600 fines have been given out nationwide since August, Mr Deguara added.

Valletta residents who dump waste outside of the stipulated collection times may face fines starting from €200, a new public consultation paper shows.

The proposed legal notice establishes that those who do not observe the times when waste may be taken out for collection will be fined €200 for a first conviction, increasing to €500 for second-time offenders, and accumulating to a hefty €1,000 in the case of a successive conviction.

If the proposed legal notice were to be introduced, both commercial and domestic waste will be collected between midnight and 3am and between 3pm and 5pm in Valletta, including Sundays and public holidays.

Hefty fines for those not respecting rules

Residents and business owners will be obliged not to take out waste more than half an hour before the proposed times, a statement from the Parliamentary Secretary for Valletta 2018, Deo Debattista, said.

The public consultation also proposes that waste must be collected from vehicles of smaller dimensions, with fines of up to €2,000 for those who do not respect the imposed rules.

The public consultation proposals give first-time offenders the possibility of paying a fine of €100 in lieu of prosecution.

Parliamentary Secretary for Valletta 2018 Deo Debattista during the launch of the public consultation. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

 “All this is being done to make way for more responsibility and discipline in this country,” Dr Debattista said.

“Everyone must understand his own role in the upkeep of a clean country. We started with Valletta not only because it is days away from being crowned European Capital of Culture, and thus must look its best, but also because we wanted to overcome challenges brought about by one of the busiest localities in our country.”

The proposed legislation will be extended nationwide if it is successful in Valletta.

The public has until January 15 to submit recommendations.