20 comments so far.26 rubbish bags filled in clean-up of the Gozo countryside
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Louis Debattista of Gozo-Greyhounds and a team of helpers went on a clean-up hike today, with the aim of collecting some of the rubbish and debris around the Gozo countryside. “What a beautiful day today, it was perfect weather and a good turn-out with11 kids and 5 grown-ups, all from Qala,” Louis said.
Today’s clean-up was arranged following the response to his letter in the Gozo News yesterday, about a hike he did from Xatt L’Ahmar to Dwejra a few weeks ago with a group of hikers, who were shocked by the large amount of garbage and debris they saw on the hike.
Louis said, “on today’s hike we had an American family along to help out, as well as Mr David Camilleri who picked up the trash we collected and took the recycling in his car to Qala Centre as we continued with the collecting.”
“We all started by the Qala Local Council at 9.30am and walked down to Triq Tac Cawl where we started picking up recyclables and trash. After walking just I km we filled up 4 full bags then we walked about 4km and filled 22 bags, finishing in Zewwieqa by the marina, ” Louis said.
“Unfortunately, we did not make it all the way to Xatt L’Ahmar because the kids were getting tired and collecting all the trash took longer than we had expected. “It was amazing just how much the kids enjoyed the clearing up!” Louis added.
More volunteers are invited to join Louis again on this coming Monday (weather permitting) for another clean-up hike, which will start at Imgarr and go to Xatt L’Ahmar, up by the Fort Chambray and back to Qala.
Louis said, “Our island of Gozo would be so beautiful if everyone helped out like they did today! Well done to the Qala kids, I’m proud of them for helping to make such a big difference and thank you also to the parents for letting their children join the Gozo-Greyhounds for this worthwhile event.”
Gozo-Greyhounds said that they would also like to thank the Mayor of Qala, Mr Clint Camilleri, for providing the recycling truck to pick up all the garbage and recycling that they had collected.
Very glad to read this article regarding cleaning up the countryside of Gozo. I love visiting your beautiful country 3/4 times per year but have often felt so disappointed to the amount of mess and litter just strewn around. I am happy to read of Gozitan people realising the beauty of the island they live on and making a huge effort to try to keep it clean. A huge well done to everyone who took part.
Thank you anytime you & your friends are in Gozo you can join us for a hike.
Face.b on Gozo-Greyhounds to know more about us and when and where a hike is taken place. Trying to keep this Island pretty. I live and I was born here. Gozo is mine & our rock that I have to protect if I can.
Excellent work!!! But, it is not just in the countryside of this beautiful island. Rubbish is also in the villages because many people do not dispose of it correctly or leave bags out for collection on the correct days. That means that cats and dogs wandering wild rip open the bags and the contents are scattered to the four winds.
I have notes that when it comes to the villages some of the trash that people leave out side are the most the farm houses, flats where people rent or have second home and they take the trash out and then they leave Gozo. they would not know what happen with that trash they left outside. When its windy all that broken trash is everywhere. I have taken notes where you see the most trash broken in Gozo. My advice is that Agents, owners with farm houses, Flats and the people with the second home should take care the trash as well specially if they leave it on Sunday night and the pick Monday morning. The Local Council should take notes so they can tell this owners, Agents what is happing when they leave Gozo.
I have been saying it over and over, why should residents dispose there household rubbish and waste in plastic bags. Have they not heard of garbage bins yet. Total disgrace
.LOCAL COUNCILS TAKE NOTE.
Gozoroo
I believe that this was trialled some years ago but for several reasons, including misuse of the bins, proved unsuccessful.
Unsuccessful!
Ignorance is no excuse. Ye they mistaken them for pot plants!! or used them for umbrellas. They would not misuse the bins if they pay for them. About time Councils start charging municipal rates based on property value. Where is the OH&S for refuse collectors. I would not touch those bags, not even with a ten foot pole. I witnessed rats as big as cats feasting on them bags during the day mind you.
I still repeat what I said above TOTAL DISGRACE
Gozoroo
I would argue that ignorance is an excuse where education is lacking. That is what is needed; education and before the introduction of other methods. Otherwise it will mean that a lot of money would be spent for no result. It would take a huge financial investment to implement the use of ‘wheelie bins’. New trucks would be needed not just the cost of the bins themselves. Many people would not be able to afford any imposed rates and who would conduct the valuation of the already over inflated value of property here?
We are truly lucky to have found kindred spirits right next door to us when we moved here to Qala from New York City, in the form of Louis Debattista of Gozo-Greyhounds and his wonderful family. Ever since we started visiting Malta several years ago, we were shocked, saddened and amazed at the amount of trash on the streets, tourist sites and beautiful countrysides. When we moved here full time last year, we made a point of picking up trash just around our own streets and local paths. It’s a constant and daunting task. We even had friends visit over the summer from New York City who were so shocked by the trash everywhere that they started going on mini-clean-up hikes with us as well. Yesterday’s hike was a great example of what a group of people can do–with very little effort–to really make a big difference for everyone on the island. People come here from all over the world to enjoy the majestic beauty of Gozo by hiking and biking along the countryside. To see trash so carelessly thrown about along the trails is savagely disappointing and can ruin the memories of Gozo that people try to take with them. We, as a family, are so happy to find like minded people who are willing to volunteer their time to do just a little bit of work cleaning up after others in order to keep Gozo pristine and beautiful (as well as minimizing the damage to the ecosystem)! I hope that more and more events like this can be organized and held all over Gozo! Thank you Louis Debattista of Gozo-Greyhounds!
Thank you for helping and be with us. Your family made us stronger as a team on the hike. Thanks for the photos taken.
I would like to know where to buy a ‘grabber’ to be able pick up litter. I have trouble bending and a lot of litter is outside our block which I cannot reach without one. If I had one then I could do more than just pick up what I do now.
if you are living in Gozo you can get them from Caruana Hardware in Xewkija store if you can’t get it let me know I can get it for you.
I am indeed living here and I will drop pin next time I am in the area, thanks.
Here you go Mr Cundy
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_sacat=0&_from=R40&_nkw=litter+picker&_sop=15
They are not expensive, perhaps we could purchase some to donate to the Gozo Ministry and the Local Councils who of course should already be doing something to prevent such littering as well as cleaning up all the existing mess which is dumped all over Gozo.
Grazzi, ordered!
Thank you for your noble deed. Hope the culprits appreciate your effort and stop making a mess of your magnificent countryside.
Lot of thanks, Louis ! but start to clean down the belvedere, where lots of garbage are let from the next pizzeria !
My Friend, Gozo-Greyhound is not ordering anything but Gozo-Greyhound is doing something to keep this Island clean & pretty. Please join us and do the same and any NGO come on and do the same, Youths join us and do the same. Yes I have seen that, all the way to Saint Anthony. I will post for the next hike for a clean-up. Tomorrow for the Xatt L’Ahmar hike is off, due a bad weather. Thank you and take care.
gozitan, how about doing something yourself? Set an example rather than order others to do it.
I’ld like to help you, but I live at 1750 km from Gozo ! and I stay only one week once a year !