ERA investigates 242 reports of dumping since 2017

Two hundred and forty-two cases of dumping have been investigated by the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) since 2017, a spokesperson has told The Malta Independent.

Complaints about illegal dumping around Malta have frequently been reported in the media, with some organisations even created to help combat the situation by cleaning up Malta’s countryside.

“The following cases were investigated: 73 in 2017, 105 in 2018 and 64 this year. We have not prosecuted anyone in court yet, but fines were imposed,” the ERA spokesperson said.

This newsroom sent a number of questions to the ERA, asking for information as to the number of dumping reports received since 2017; the procedure followed after a report has been received; which sites required the most frequent clean-ups; whether at known illegal dumping sites

surveillance cameras had been installed; what the ERA was doing to deter dumping; and what was being done to catch the culprits.

“Any illegal dumping of waste is in breach of waste regulations. Once the ERA receives such a complaint, the Compliance & Enforcement Directorate within the ERA initiates investigations by visiting the site in question in order to identify the extent of the alleged dumping. As part of its investigation, CED proceeds by identifying the owner or responsible party, where this is possible, often by consulting other public agencies.”

If the owner or responsible parties are known, ERA initiates discussions with them, asking them to clean up the site, the spokesperson explained. “On the other hand, if the perpetrator is unknown, ERA affixes a call letter on the site. The aim of these discussions is to convince the contravener to restore the site to its original state, with minimal environmental damage. Should the owner/contravener not comply, the ERA proceeds with enforcement action, which can consist of Stop and Compliance Orders with daily fines, administrative fines and/or court action.”

Eventually, the spokesperson said, the ERA may have to resort to direct action to remove the illegalities, at the expense of the owner/contravener.

The spokesperson further explained that the Cleansing Department together with Ambjent Malta were responsible for clean-up operations in Malta and Gozo. “These are carried out under the direction of the ERA when in an environmentally sensitive area.”

The ERA is, at present, considering various options in order to deter dumping on known sites, the spokesperson said. The Compliance & Enforcement Directorate carries out routine inspections at pre-identified sites. The spokesperson did not reveal what these options are.

“The Compliance & Enforcement Directorate carries out both on-site and desktop investigations to identify contraveners. With regard to penalties, depending on the nature of the illegality, administrative fines are issued by the Authority based on regulations.”

“Daily fines imposed in Stop and Compliance Orders, as per the Daily Penalties (Environment) Regulations, continue to accrue on a daily basis until the illegalities are removed or are otherwise regularized.”

Questions were also sent to the Malta Police Force. A spokesperson explained that one charge was issued regarding illegal dumping in 2017. “The police carry out daily inspections with regards to sites where illegal dumping was reported to the police, to the ERA or to the cleansing department.”

“The Administrative Law Enforcement police lately have been carrying out daily inspections at the Natura 2000 area in Pembroke, where several reports of illegal dumping were received. Frequent inspections are also being carried out by the ERA.”