AD pushes for better urban environment in St. Paul’s Bay

Alternattiva Demokratika (AD) Chairperson Arnold Cassola said that he believed that proper waste management would not only reflect on the positive upkeep of the locality but that it would also reap other benefits through better utilization of such a resource.

“The planting of suitable and endemic trees will also help to improve the environment in many ways. The locality of St.Paul's Bay is not an exception to these two simple common rules,” Cassola said.

Simon Galea, AD candidate for St.Paul's Bay Local Council elections stressed the need for facilitation of waste separation through improvement of facilities as well as the importance of raising awareness plus the need of better enforcement.

“It is disturbing to notice that since last week recipient containers for plastic and paper were removed from most of the bring in sites. If we strongly emphasize waste separation and recycling, facilities have to improve,” Galea said.

Galea added however that the responsibility does not fall solely on the local council but also on the residents.

“Littering is a result of individuals not abiding by rules and regulations. Some people take out rubbish after collection time, others still litter deliberately and some dog owners are irresponsible enough not to pick up their pet's droppings,”

All of these factors should be addressed, through improvement of facilities including proper bring in sites and more dog bins, raising awareness and better enforcement through the deployment of green wardens and the use of cctv cameras, according to Galea.

“If I am elected, I will work towards the introduction of electronic waste recipients and other innovative ideas such as composting projects. The compost could then be utilized in landscaped areas falling within same locality,” Galea added.

“We need more trees in our locality both to combat pollution and to embellish the environment.”

Citing the Xemxija Hill promenade as an example Galea explained that any available space should be made proper use of.

“Instead of placing pots holding alien species plants such as birds of paradise, the same space could be much better utilized with indigenous plants or even endemic trees such as the local olive tree 'Ta- l Bidni', which is acclimated to the local environment contrary to alien species which need more maintenance and even cost much more to buy.”

 Galea said that such trees would not only embellish the promenade, but also provide shade for all those making use of the existing benches.

“Embellishing projects should also be extended for residential areas where residents should be encouraged to plant suitable trees in their front patio,” he said adding that dull streets containing rows of apartment blocks would thereby be turned into small avenues.

“Residents will not only benefit from better air quality through such embellishment projects, but residents will also experience property appreciation.”