Litter bugs go on a rampage

Resources and Infrastructure Minister Ninu Zammit yesterday condemned what he called "a spate of malicious acts" by unknown culprits who dumped tonnes of waste on arterial roads across the island in just a few hours. The acts were reported to the ministry's Cleansing Services Department less than 24 hours after 200 refrigerators, plastic containers and car spares were dumped illegally along Notabile Road in Attard.

Several loads of construction material were strewn yesterday along the Bahar ic-Caghaq coast road, beneath St Helen's bastion in Cospicua, close to San Luçjan tower in Marsaxlokk and in Pembroke.

A number of old mattresses were also dumped beneath the Kirkop tunnels, on the new road passing along Zebbug and in Zabbar.

Mr Zammit appealed to people who may have witnessed illegal dumping to contact the authorities immediately, warning that the police were on the lookout to catch litter bugs

Despite efforts to keep the country clean, more than 11,200 tonnes of waste were collected from valleys and arterial roads at a cost of Lm400,000 at least.