The government has called on Local Councils to change their waste collection times so as to avoid increasing traffic on the roads, Parliamentary Secretary Stefan Buontempo said.

He said the traffic problem is directly linked to the volume of vehicles on our roads. A consultation exercise with local councils was launched.

Local Councils are responsible for coordinating waste collection. Large waste collection vehicles are usually on the roads during rush hour. As such the government had asked local council to change waste collection times so as not to coincide with school transport and rush hour morning traffic.

Dr Buontempo said the measure should lead to less inconvenience and tension for residents and motorists.