Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1481871
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 27 MARCH 2022 OPINION 3 LETTERS & EDITORIAL maltatoday | SUNDAY • 16 OCTOBER 2022 Mikiel Galea Letters & Clarifications St Julian's waste collection DEAR St Julian's Local Council: it is a Friday, 7 October 2022, 10:25am, as I write and your door-to-door rubbish collection service has not turned up for the following in line with the Friday schedule beginning at 7:30am – and it is not the first time this happens: Grey Bag (recycle waste); White Bags (or- ganic waste); Glass (first Friday of the month). This happens systematically on every day the collection of white bags is due, i.e. Monday, Wednesday and Friday in Triq Dun Anton Debono. Not to men- tion windy days when even the Grey Bags and Black Bags burst open if not properly packed. Ironically you have recently issued residents of our street with a newslet- ter dated 16/09/2022 (Ref. K0769-22/ Gen/22-MD), reminding us about the days of collection (incidentally without reminding residents about the time which is fundamental!) and warning us that fines will be issued. Now I agree that some residents, particularly temporary ones like tourists here for a few days, do not comply with the waste separation schedules, but it is amply clear that this system of collect- ing the White Bags (organic waste) is not working, and is likely the cause for such a proliferation of hornets and in- creasing filth in the streets of St Julian's these last years. Until the central government even- tually issues a new strategy (God only knows when!) please consider the fol- lowing: 1. The deployment of small skips, assigned exclusively for the deposit- ing of white bags as is in current use in many municipalities I've visited on continental Europe. Such a system will however require a change of policy favouring strict enforcement which I'm sure policy-makers like to shun for fear of electoral repercussions.. 2. If 1. above cannot be imple- mented, compel the rubbish collection service providers to shovel up the mess left by the ripped bags I am copying the media room of two local newspapers in the hope that they bring to the fore this issue of rampant filth in St Julian's. I have also sent a complaint to the ministry of environ- ment, in the vain hope that they will do something concrete since there so many more efficient ways to collect rubbish efficiently, e.g. using traceable ID- tagged bags and rewarding citizens for complying to schedules through various technologies. Alex Borg St Julian's