The Mangualde City Council announced today that, by the end of the month, it will tighten enforcement regarding the improper disposal of urban waste next to containers and ecopoints, and that it will have “zero tolerance” for offenders.
This measure was decided after municipal services recorded “a significant increase” in these irregular situations at various points in the Mangualde municipality, in the district of Viseu.
The vice-president of the municipality and head of the Environment department, João Cruz, considered that “the disposal of waste outside containers and ecopoints is an offense and a lack of respect for public space and for the entire community”.
“We will reinforce enforcement and hold accountable those who persist in these behaviors,” stressed João Cruz.
The municipality assured that, “whenever elements that allow identifying the individuals responsible for illegal behaviors are collected,” administrative offense proceedings will be instituted.
Fines can vary between 250 and 1,500 euros for individuals and 1,250 to 22,000 euros for corporate entities.
Bags, boxes, furniture, appliances, construction waste and other materials have been abandoned next to the waste collection equipment.
“These practices harm the cleanliness and image of the municipality, cause bad smells, attract animals and hinder the work of the collection teams, also representing additional costs for everyone,” lamented the vice-president, explaining that there are solutions for the proper disposal of these materials.
João Cruz explained that “leaving waste on the ground next to a container is not recycling, it is not proper disposal and it does not transfer the responsibility to the municipal and intermunicipal services”.
“It is abandonment of waste in the public space,” he stressed.
The mayor urged everyone’s collaboration in the proper separation and disposal of waste and reminded that “the preservation of cleanliness and the quality of the public space also depends on the behavior of each citizen”.
