Members of local NGO Nadur Nadif have met with Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri, regarding the neglect of Comino and possible ways “we can help the island of Comino both environmentally and economically.”

The meeting follows their statement in August which was endorsed by seven other NGOs on the current state of Comino, highlighting the fact that there is no vision and parts of it had fallen victim to “negligence, shabbiness, and lack of enforcement.”

They asked the Minister whether it was economically viable to continue with the current economic model for Comino, knowing that they are collecting around 2,100 bags every week during the peak tourism season.

The NGO said that there was also a constructive discussion on how the environmental pressure created by the influx of visitor’s can be alleviated. Ideas like, creating a visitor’s capping system or the introduction of an Eco Tax were all discussed.

“We seem to both be in agreement that this issue needs further discussion with the Ministry of Tourism,” Nadur Nadif said. “Unfortunately, we had previously tried contacting the Tourism Minister for a meeting to discuss this issue, however there had been no response to the request.”

“Our next point was about the separation and collection of waste from the island. We as Nadur Nadif have been a big advocate on the separation of waste and think it’s a necessary step forwards towards a sustainable future.” the NGO said.The young NGO members pointed out that “even though EcoGozo has tried to attach multiple stickers to each bin in order for better separation of waste, however using the same colour for each bin and garbage bag surely does not help identify each type of waste.”

They then questioned why a system of different coloured bins had not been implemented for better separation.

The Ministry advised that only green and grey bins can be acquired, so Nadur Nadif said it suggested attaching a sticker to each side of the bin and not just on one side, because with some of the bins facing the wrong direction the stickers weren’t visible.

In addition, the Ministry said that by next summer they plan to have two types of waste separation bags, Organic and Non-Organic.

Nadur Nadif said that when asked if the garbage was actually separated after being transported back to Gozo, the Ministry said “the garbage bags are separated at WasteServ,” however, the Ministry also said that “most of the waste collected from Comino is still mixed and not properly separated.”

Nadur Nadif said it also wanted to get the Minister’s feedback on the abundance of pineapples on the island, “as we believe that an alternative should be found. If you visit the island, you are guaranteed to spot at least one pineapple thrown away on the ground or even in the sea.”

“This problem is a leading factor to the increase of the rat population on the island which is negatively affecting the endemic flora and fauna,” the NGO said.

It added that “these very same pineapples, although degrade unlike plastic, leave behind a massive carbon footprint. Knowing that this fruit is not grown anywhere on the Maltese islands, it ends up being imported from other countries, leaving behind tons of carbon emissions just to hold some alcohol.”

Nadur Nadif’s suggestions to resolve this problem included the use biodegradable and or recyclable paper cups to be standardised on the island. Also, the idea of implementing water refiling stations was brought up to further limit the use of plastic, it said.

The NGO said that the Minister agreed that Comino should become a plastic free area. Stating that this matter will be further discussed with the Environment and Tourism Ministers.

Nadur Nadif said that it would appear to have been “a constructive meeting with the Gozo Minister. Even though nothing has been agreed to be implemented we seem to be on the same page.”

It went on to say that in the near future the Tourism Minister “will finally accept our request for a meeting, and if all goes well, we will see changes being made to the island for a better, safer and cleaner Comino.”

Nadur Nadif concluded by saying that it will “work tirelessly to make Comino a zero plastic area and to find possible ways to alleviate the environmental pressure caused by the influx of tourists.”

“Let’s be the solution to the conservation of these sites and not the problem.”

Permalink: Nadur Nadif and Gozo Minister discuss Comino’s neglect