By the end of January around 20,000 stickers had been put on bin bags that were placed outside on the wrong day, Minister for the Environment, Energy, and Enterprise Miriam Dalli said in Parliament on Tuesday.

Dalli was responding to a query from PN MP Graziella Galea regarding the steps the government was taking to prevent this from occurring.

With the goal of making it more convenient for homeowners to recycle and dispose of their garbage more effectively, the collection of waste became standardized at the beginning of this year after years of rubbish collection days varying among regions.

The revised schedule is printed on the stickers, along with a warning that residents could be fined €150 if they are found putting out the incorrect bag.