Concerns over plastic confetti use at St Julian’s feast
The use of plastic confetti during the St Julian’s feast, which is being celebrated this week, has been flagged by environmentalist and The Malta Independent columnist Camilla Appelgren.
She uploaded several images showing piles of plastic and paper confetti thrown into the streets over the past few days.
In a Facebook post, Appelgren said: “Seriously all organisers of feasts in Malta! What the hell does it take for you to understand the damage you are causing out environment? Simple solution PAPER CONFETTI!”
“Prime Minister Joseph Muscat - you see this (images accompanying the post)? THIS is why I wrote to you the other evening and you were kind to answer me saying that I was a ‘Person of genuineness’. Get up from your chair, go to St Julian’s, see the state of the streets and on Saturday - see what happens to the sea.”
She said that she will be at the feast today and will document the damage in the sea. Appelgren said that she is building her case, and hopes that politicians take action. As a last resort, she said, she is even willing to take this situation to court, given Litter Act laws.
The issue of plastic confetti came to light after the Summer Carnival in Marsascala, where plastic confetti was shot into the bay.
Environmentalists were enraged by the process, which saw hundreds, if not thousands of pieces of plastic floating into the bay. Marsascala mayor Mario Calleja said that such issues occur in many other localities, stressing that some litter is normal in during such festivities not just locally, however said that he is not in favour of what happened and will, next time, tell them not to do it.
Justice and Culture Minster Owen Bonnici said the cleansing department had taken steps to clean up the mess soon after the event was over, but environmentalists say that not all pieces of plastic can be retrieved from the sea.
Just last week a huge loggerhead turtle was found dead in the sea. Officials later said that the turtle, which is an endangered species, died of pneumonia but had been greatly weakened by ingested plastics.