Il-politika tal‑Gvern ta’ one-size-fits-all għall-ġbir tal-iskart mhix taħdem

Il-politika tal‑Gvern ta’ one-size-fits-all għall-ġbir tal-iskart mhix taħdem

Il-ġbir tal-iskart għandu jerġa’ lura f’idejn il-kunsilli lokali

Il-kriżi tal-ġbir tal-iskart u n-nuqqas ta’ tindif fil-pajjiż hija riżultat dirett tad-deċiżjonijiet inkompetenti tal-Gvern Laburista li għażel li jiċċentralizza l-ġbir tal-iskart u jneħħih minn idejn il-kunsilli lokali. Huwa ċar li l-politika ta’ one-size-fits-all għall-ġbir tal-iskart mhix taħdem, u xhieda ċara ta’ dan huwa dak li ġara bil-ġbir tal-iskart wara l-maltempata kbira tal-aħħar jiem.

Il-Gvern għażel li jneħħi l-awtonomija u r-responsabbiltà tal-ġbir tal-iskart minn taħt il-kunsilli lokali biex jieħu kollox f’idejh, bil-konsegwenza li nħolqot sistema li ma tirrispettax u lanqas tisma’ lil min verament imiss mal-problema, fosthom is-sindki, il-kunsillieri lokali u l-kolletturi tal-iskart. Dan wassal biex id-deċiżjonijiet jittieħdu biss b’daqqa ta’ pinna minn fuq il-mejda tal-ministeri, b’mod ineffiċjenti, bla konsultazzjoni u mingħajr pjan ċar ta’ komunikazzjoni mar-residenti.

Fil-każ tal-aħħar jiem spikka l-mod kif in-nuqqas gravi ta’ koordinazzjoni bejn il-Ministeri u l-entitajiet involuti – b’deċiżjonijiet li jinbidlu minn ħin għal ieħor u nuqqas ta’ informazzjoni f’waqtha dwar meta u kif kellu jsir il-ġbir tal-borża s-sewda wara l-maltemp – wassal biex inħoloq kaos amministrattiv, apparti konfużjoni kbira fost iċ-ċittadini.

Minkejja li kien hemm soluzzjonijiet prattiċi, bħall-allokazzjoni ta’ ġranet ta’ ġbir aktar fil-qrib, dawn ma ġewx adottati u minflok, ittieħdu deċiżjonijiet li wasslu għal konfużjoni f’diversi lokalitajiet madwar Malta u Għawdex.

Huwa deplorabbli kif ir-reġjuni u l-kunsilli ġew infurmati b’deċiżjonijiet diġà meħuda, mingħajr ma nżammew parti mid-diskussjonijiet li jwasslu għal dawn l-għażliet, minkejja li huma jkollhom jiffaċċjaw direttament lir-residenti rrabjati u t-tħassib tagħhom. Din it-tip ta’ tmexxija – apparti li tinjora lir-resident tal-lokal – turi nuqqas ta’ fiduċja fil-komunitajiet.

Il-Partit Nazzjonalista ilu jwissi fuq id-direzzjoni ħażina li qed jieħu l-Gvern fil-qasam tal-immaniġġjar tal-iskart u tal-indafa pubblika, u li din il-kriżi kurrenti mhijiex aċċident, iżda frott ta’ snin ta’ deċiżjonijiet politiċi ħżiena u mhux professjonali. Il-fatt li issa Malta qed tiffaċċja kritika u pressjoni fuq il-mod kif qed timmaniġġja s-settur tal-iskart ikompli juri kemm hi serja s-sitwazzjoni.

Filwaqt li jenfasizza li l-ġbir tal-iskart għandu jmur lura f’idejn il-kunsilli lokali, fid-dawl ta’ dan kollu, il-Partit Nazzjonalista:

· Jappella biex jiġi rivedut mill-ġdid il-mudell ta’ ċentralizzazzjoni tal-ġbir tal-iskart, b’aktar awtonomija u setgħa reali mogħtija lill-kunsilli lokali;

· Jerġa’ joffri l-id ta’ ħbiberija u jiddikjara li lest li jgħin biex din il-problema tissolva, anke billi titfassal triq ’il quddiem b’alternattivi li ġew imressqa anke mill-Oppożizzjoni fil-kuntest tal-proposti li ħarġu mill-konsultazzjoni pubblika li ġiet imnedija, u li turi li s-sistema one-size-fits-all mhix qed taħdem;

· Issejjaħ biex jiġi stabbilit protokoll ċar ta’ konsultazzjoni obbligatorja mal-kunsilli, ir-reġjuni, is-sindki u l-kuntratturi qabel ma jittieħdu deċiżjonijiet li jolqtu direttament ir-residenti;

· Jappella biex tissaħħaħ il-komunikazzjoni pubblika, b’avviżi ċari, konsistenti u fil-ħin dwar kull tibdil fl-iskeda tal-ġbir tal-iskart.

Il-Partit Nazzjonalista jwiegħed li se jibqa’ fuq quddiem nett fid-difiża tal-komunitajiet lokali, tal-kunsilli lokali u tal-ħaddiema tal-iskart. Gvern ġdid Nazzjonalista jassigura li s-servizzi essenzjali f’pajjiżna jingħataw b’aktar serjetà, professjonalità u rispett lejn iċ-ċittadini u lejn l-istituzzjonijiet lokali.

Bernice Bonello

Shadow Minister għaż-Żgħażagħ u l-Gvern Lokali

Eve Borg Bonello

Shadow Minister għat-Tibdil fil-Klima u l-Indafa Pubblika

Liam Sciberras

President, Kulleġġ Kunsillieri Lokali Partit Nazzjonalista (KKLPN)

Emvin Bartolo

Direttur tal-Kunsillieri Lokali tal-Partit Nazzjonalista

24.01.2026

---------------------------

The Government’s one-size-fits-all waste collection policy is not working Waste collection must be returned to local councils

The crisis in waste collection and the lack of cleanliness across the country are the direct result of the incompetent decisions taken by the Labour Government, which chose to centralise waste collection and remove it from the responsibility of local councils. It is now clear that a one-size-fits-all approach to waste collection is not working, and the events surrounding waste collection in the aftermath of the severe storm of recent days are clear proof of this.

The Government opted to strip local councils of their autonomy and responsibility for waste collection, taking full control itself. The result has been the creation of a system that neither respects nor listens to those who deal with the problem on a daily basis, including mayors, local councillors and waste collectors. Decisions are instead taken unilaterally, from ministerial desks, in an inefficient manner, without consultation and without a clear communication plan with residents.

In recent days, the serious lack of coordination between ministries and the entities involved became particularly evident. Decisions were changed from one moment to the next, while timely information on when and how black bag waste collection was to take place following the storm was lacking. This led to administrative chaos, as well as widespread confusion among citizens.

Despite the availability of practical solutions, such as allocating waste collection days closer together, these were not adopted. Instead, decisions were taken that resulted in confusion across several localities in both Malta and Gozo.

It is deplorable that regions and local councils were merely informed of decisions that had already been taken, without being involved in the discussions leading to these choices, despite the fact that they are the ones who must directly face residents’ anger and concerns. This style of leadership not only ignores local residents but also demonstrates a lack of trust in communities.

The Partit Nazzjonalista has long warned about the wrong direction the Government has taken in the field of waste management and public cleanliness. The current crisis is not an accident, but the result of years of poor and unprofessional political decisions. The fact that Malta is now facing criticism and pressure over how it manages the waste sector further underlines the seriousness of the situation.

While reiterating that waste collection must be returned to the responsibility of local councils, the Partit Nazzjonalista, in light of all this:

Calls for a full review of the centralised waste collection model, with greater autonomy and real powers granted to local councils;
Once again extends a hand of cooperation and declares its willingness to help resolve this problem, including by charting a way forward through alternatives that have also been proposed by the Opposition in the context of the public consultation launched, which clearly shows that the one-size-fits-all system is not working;
Calls for the establishment of a clear protocol for mandatory consultation with local councils, regions, mayors and contractors before decisions are taken that directly affect residents;
Appeals for stronger public communication, with clear, consistent and timely notices regarding any changes to waste collection schedules.

The Partit Nazzjonalista pledges to remain at the forefront in defending local communities, local councils and waste sector workers. A new Nationalist Government will ensure that essential services in our country are delivered with greater seriousness, professionalism and respect towards citizens and local institutions.

Bernice Bonello Shadow Minister for Youth and Local Government

Eve Borg Bonello Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Public Cleanliness

Liam Sciberras President, Kulleġġ Kunsillieri Lokali Partit Nazzjonalista (KKLPN)

Emvin Bartolo Director of Local Councillors, Partit Nazzjonalista

24.01.2026