PN calls for local councils to regain waste collection powers

The Nationalist Party has called on the government to return full responsibility for waste collection to local councils, blaming a centralised system for the rubbish problems seen this summer in Sliema, Swieqi, St Julian's and other localities.

"It is pointless for the government to now admit that cleanliness and street waste collection are among the greatest challenges facing local councils when this challenge was, in essence, created by the government itself," the party said in a statement.

Residents in these localities have been dealing with piles of rubbish bags on a daily basis, often spilling onto the road from pavements, the PN said. It described the situation as unacceptable and a health risk.

The party linked the problem directly to government decisions that have stripped local councils of their powers over recent years, culminating in a centralised waste collection system it says has now clearly failed.

In tourist areas, the party said the impact goes beyond cleanliness, damaging Malta's reputation as a quality tourism destination. It argued this matters more given the ongoing shift in tourism policy from quantity to quality.

The PN also renewed its call for revenue from the environmental contribution, or eco-tax, paid by tourists to be channelled back to the local councils in the localities where it is collected. The party noted this proposal carries added weight now that the eco-tax has been increased substantially.

"Residents genuinely deserve better, and Malta's tourism product cannot continue to suffer as a result of this strategy," the party said.

The statement was issued jointly by Nationalist Party spokesperson Alex Perici Calascione and Bernice Bonello.