A bring-in site in San Ġwann did not only attract plastic, paper, metal and glass but even a three-seater sofa and a broken clothes horse. 

Apart from these, there were also black bags, pieces of wood and even an old carpet. 

This angered residents in St Margaret Street and the surrounding areas who said that they had enough of putting up with people who simply disregarded the law and ignored public cleanliness. 

When contacted, San Ġwann mayor Etienne Bonello Dupuis said it was indeed sad that some people had not yet learned to keep the country clean and tidy. 

“It is so sad that in this day and age we’re not able to keep the place tidy,” he said.

“Councils spend thousands of euro to keep localities as clean as possible but it’s beginning to be a losing battle. I can assure you, however, that the San Ġwann local council will never give up. 

“It’s not as if we don’t offer a free garbage collection service. We will continue to collect dumped rubbish and also continue an education campaign so, perhaps one day, we will see light at the end of the tunnel.”

In the meantime, he added, there was a dire need for more enforcement and surveillance which, he admitted, came at a cost that the councils could not afford.

“Dumpers have to be brought to the book,” the mayor said.

The same sentiment was expressed by the chief executive of Greenpak, Mario Schembri, whose company owns the bring-in site in San Ġwann. 

“Despite education campaigns, we are still encountering such situations on a daily basis. It is simply inexcusable especially when residents are spoilt for choice with the list of services offered including daily collections, bring-in sites, civic amenity sites and a bulky refuse collection service. 

“In this case, it would have probably been easier for the owner of that sofa to book for a bulky refuse collection,” he said. 

“It is about time that hefty fines start being dished out to serve as a deterrent because it seems it is the only way that we can reign in on this irresponsible behaviour. 

“Something has to be done.”

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