Africa-Press – Mauritius. The payment of new fixed penalties for littering and illegal dumping was announced, this morning, by the Minister of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change, Mr Kavydass Ramano, during the launching of a sensitisation campaign on littering and illegal dumping.
The ceremony was held this morning, at the Caudan Arts Centre, in Port-Louis. The measures/penalties include:
Littering on any street, vacant premises, pavement, road, road reserve, bare land, State land, or any other public place will be punishable by a penalty of Rs 3,000. Littering in the nature, public park, public beach, lagoon, or any part of the sea, amongst others, will be subject to a penalty of Rs 5,000.
Fixed penalties for illegal dumping of any household, commercial or industrial waste, vehicles wreck, construction debris, household furniture, animal carcass, medical wastes, green wastes on any public place, road, bare land, beach, canal, drain, state land, mountain or watercourses have been increased to Rs 25,000.
Amendment being brought to the Local Government (Dumping and Waste Carrier) Regulations 2003 for the revocation and cancellation of waste carrier licence and seizure of vehicle in case of unlawful dumping of wastes.
Reporting by the public about any such illegal activities under ‘Name and Shame’ via the Whatsapp Number of the Police de L’Environnement on 52505151.
Sensitisation campaign on littering and illegal dumping
The Minister also launched sensitisation materials on littering and illegal dumping which include a video clip, a radio spot and a poster with the slogan “Ou zet salte, dimoune li koz ou”.
This slogan is a self-warning that all citizens are being watched by the neighbourhood and by the authorities. In his address, Minister Ramano underlined that the initiative is geared towards building a cleaner and greener Mauritius.
He observed that littering and illegal dumping adversely impact on our environment, economy and society. He dwelt on some of their consequences such as blocking drains and waterways that in turn causes floods, and marine pollution and destruction of aquatic/ marine flora and fauna.
He deplored the irresponsible behaviours of some citizens and indicated that since 2018 till date, the Police de L’Environnement has served 6788 contraventions for littering and illegal dumping and some 679 eyesore abatement notices have been issued.
Speaking about solid waste disposal in Mauritius, Mr Ramano, underpinned the importance of Responsible Consumption and Production to develop resilience and make resources last longer.
‘There is need to refuse what we do not need, reduce what we do need, reuse what we consume and recycle what we cannot refuse, reduce and reuse’, he stressed.
He added that more sustainable techniques are being envisaged to revalorise wastes and will be implemented in line with the concept of circular economy, while recalling that the Ministry’s target for waste diversion from landfilling is 70% by 2030.
He announced that a waste collection site has been set up at La Laura transfer station and will be operational in the coming days and three more such waste collection sites will be set at Roche Bois, Poudre d’Or and La Brasserie transfer stations.
The Minister also spoke about other key projects in the pipeline namely the installation of eco-bins at strategic locations across the island with the aim of collecting PET bottles and aluminum cans for eventual recycling.
He also stated that the Ministry is commissioning a feasibility study for a scrapyard facility for end-of-life vehicles, in order to end-of-life vehicles to be collected, properly depolluted and dismantled with the recyclables collected for eventual recycling.
Another project consists of used tyres recycling that will address the increasing issue of used tyres generation in Mauritius. We are also coming up with an extended producer responsibility (EPR) system for the management of electrical and electronic wastes, added the Minister.
Through this system, all importers of e-goods will have to take responsibility for the goods they put on the Mauritian market once these become a waste material, he said.
The setting-up of the EPR system will not only ensure the sound management of e-wastes in Mauritius but also boost the recycling industry and create green jobs, he emphasised.
He further announced a collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism for an island-wide cleaning campaign, in the context of the reopening of borders to tourists.
