Watch: People Who Dump Bulky Refuse In Countryside Have ‘Mental Illness,’ Jason Micallef Says
Valletta Cultural Agency chairman Jason Micallef had strong words against people who dump their household waste in fields, going so far as to say they have a “mental illness”.
During a recent discussion on F Living, Micallef said the people of Malta lack a sense of civic duty when it comes to the environment.
“I love the people of Malta but when it comes to our civic sense… let’s admit this and stop being hypocritical, we aren’t a clean nation beyond our own doorsteps,” he said.
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“We have local council and bulky refuse services… nowhere else in the world can you just call them up and set up a time for them to come over and pick up your old fridge. However, one can still see trashed computers, televisions and refrigerators in our valleys. Can you imagine this? It saddens me to say this but I view it as a mental illness.”
“I go trekking with my dog and it’s so sad,” he added, recounting how he recently spotted two discarded computer towers in a valley.
“So these people must have hopped into a car, driven to the valley and risked a huge fine for getting caught [discarding their waste]. I was going to call it a vice but I view it as a sickness. And the waste collection services on offer are free if you please.”
Micallef does raise an important point about dumping – despite fines set at between €3,000 to €6,000, it is unfortunately all too common to spot discarded household waste when walking in the countryside.
However, his description of the situation as a “mental illness” will likely raise a few eyebrows. Mental health activists have long warned against casually throwing out references to mental health as insults, warning this only reinforces stigmatization.
What do you make of Jason Micallef’s comments?
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