Carmel Cacopardo, Chairperson of ADPD-The Green Party, has stated that, “paying more attention on how we manage the waste we generate will lead to better and cleaner urban areas. To achieve this, we must understand that the local councils are best placed to ensure that this objective is attained properly as they are closest to the residents effected.”

He said that the proposal of the Local Councils’ Association aims at having 13,000 waste collection points in the different localities in lieu of having a scammel doing the rounds in our towns and villages, is a “reasonable one.”

Cacopardo stressed that it would also require studies and a number of pilot projects in different localities to examine in detail the impacts in different settings. It would require underpinning by an educational campaign as well as a road map on how those with mobility problems will be assisted.

Sandra Gauci, ADPD Deputy Secretary General, stressed that “going through our streets on a normal morning reveals that it is almost impossible to walk on some of our pavements.”

“Mondays, in particular, she said, when mixed waste is collected (in the black bag) together with organic waste (in the white bag) most of our pavements are an area reserved for waste. In addition to generating uncleanliness through spilt waste this obstructs residents from using pavements.

“Those most impacted are elderly residents and those with mobility impairments who in a number of localities find it very difficult to manage walking on pavements in such circumstances.”

She also pointed out that the waste collection schedule does not address the need of shift workers, nor does it take into consideration the needs of households where both parents are in employment and generally not at home during waste collection times. “Even relative to waste we need policies which address the residents’ actual needs.”

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