The measure has been agreed by the Cabinet in a bid to eradicate illegal dumping from the countryside, which, in the absolute majority of cases, happens away from the eyes of uniformed officers precisely because their presence scares people off.

The fact that eco-wardens will not wear a uniform means that they stand a better chance of catching people disposing of their waste illegally. Asked to confirm whether the government has a complement of eco-wardens in mind, Minister Pullicino refrained from giving the exact number, saying that the final figure is still pending discussions. He pointed out that the eco-wardens will be commissioned both by local councils and by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.

In this way, even if a particular council omits from its responsibility to safeguard the area under its jurisdiction from illegal dumping, the state will still have a mechanism by which to intervene directly, he explained.

The discussions taking place with the Local Councils Association and the Guardian Warden Services Ltd over the amendments proposed to the present Litter Act and the eco-wardens will be concluded by January and the new measures will be introduced in March, the minister said. The government has set a strict schedule that must be followed by all parties.

The amendments to the act are said to include hefty increases to the present fines. Furthermore, the minister emphasised, the fines will relate to specific zones. For example, if a person is caught littering in a historic area the fine will doubled.

During the first three months, after the introduction of the new measures, the eco-wardens will only give offenders a warning and not a fine. This moratorium will work in tandem with an educational campaign. In addition to this, the minister said, a substantial part of the revenue generated from the eco-fines will go towards funds which will be made available to special projects proposed by NGOs and local councils.