Bajjiet aktar nodfa fl-2026 bil-projbizzjoni tat-tipjip mill-1 ta’ Jannar
Il-bajjiet ta’ Ramla tal-Mixquqa (Golden Bay) u r-Ramla l-Ħamra b’żoni dedikati għat-tipjip
Kif ġie imħabbar aktar kmieni din is-sena, mill-1 ta’ Jannar 2026 it-tipjip se jkun projbit fi tnejn mill-aktar bajjiet popolari tal-gżejjer Maltin, apparti f’żoni rispettivi fil-bajja stess.
It-tipjip se jkun ipprojbit fuq żewġ bajjiet — Ir-Ramla tal-Mixquqa (Golden Bay) f’Malta u r-Ramla l-Ħamra f’Għawdex — ħlief fiż-żoni għat-tipjip fil-bajja.
Tabelli fl-entratura ta’ kull bajja se jinnotifikaw lill-pubbliku li t-tipjip huwa strettament ipprojbit sakemm ma jsirx fiż-żoni tat-tipjip. Dawn iż-żoni se jkunu mmarkati b’mod ċar b’tabelli.
Il-projbizzjoni tat-tipjip se tiġi infurzata mill-pulizija kif ukoll minn uffiċjali tal-LESA u minn uffiċjali mill-Awtorità għall-Ambjent u r-Riżorsi (ERA), mid-Direttorat għas-Saħħa Ambjentali (EHD), u mill-Awtorità tat-Turiżmu (MTA).
Min jinqabad ipejjep fiż-żoni fejn it-tipjip huwa pprojbit fuq dawn iż-żewġ bajjiet se jingħata multa ta’ €150. Mhux se jingħataw twissijiet.
Permezz ta’ din is-sistema, dawk li jpejpu xorta se jitħallew igawdu l-bajja mingħajr ma’ jtellfu lil ħaddieħor. Kontenituri se jitpoġġew f’kull żona tat-tipjip sabiex tinżamm nadifa il-bajja.
Il-Ministru għall-Ambjent u l-Enerġija Miriam Dalli qalet, “Din l-inizjattiva ħarġet b’mod ċar minn diversi laqgħat u diskussjonijiet li kelli mat-tfal. Din hija miżura ambjentali konkreta li biex nindirizzaw problema persistenti, jiġifieri l-loqom tas-sigaretti li jispiċċaw fuq ir-ramel u fil-baħar, u li jieħdu ħafna snin biex jiddiżintegraw. Dawn il-loqom jagħmlu ħsara serja lill-ekosistema marittima u l-ħajja tal-baħar. Permezz ta’ dan il-proġett pilota, qed nagħmlu pass importanti lejn ambjent kostali aktar nadif u aktar b’saħħtu. Dan huwa eżempju ieħor ta’ kif qed naħdmu b’mod konkret biex nipproteġu l-ambjent marittimu tagħna.”
Min-naħa tiegħu l-Ministru għas-Saħħa u l-Anzjanità Attiva Jo Etienne Abela wera s-sodisfazzjon tiegħu ta’ projbizzjoni ta’ tipjip f’numru ta’ bajjiet. Dr Abela spjega kif din il-miżura ser tgħin biex jintlaħqu tliet għanijiet importanti: dawk li nħarsu l-ħajja u s-saħħa tal-Maltin u l-Għawdxin, inħarsu l-patrimonju naturali ta’ pajjiżna kif ukoll l-ambjent. “Jien ċert li din il-miżura ser tgħin u tkun ta’ benefiċċju favur saħħet iċ-ċittadini meta jżuru dawn il-bajjiet sbieħ,” temm jgħid il-Ministru Abela.
Kevin Mercieca, il-Kap Eżekuttiv tal-ERA, stqarr, “Żoni apposta għat-tipjip jippermettulna nipproteġu aħjar l-ambjent kostali billi nnaqqsu l-iskart u t-tniġġis tal-plastik li jagħmlu ħsara lill-ekosistemi marini tagħna.”
Cleaner beaches in 2026 with smoking ban from 1 January
Ramla tal-Mixquqa (Golden Bay) and Ramla l-Ħamra beaches to have designated smoking areas
As announced earlier this year, from 1 January 2026 smoking will be prohibited on two of the most popular beaches in the Maltese Islands, except in designated areas within the beaches themselves.
Smoking will be banned on two beaches — Ramla tal-Mixquqa (Golden Bay) in Malta and Ramla l-Ħamra in Gozo — except in the designated smoking zones on the beach.
Signs at the entrances to each beach will inform the public that smoking is strictly prohibited unless it takes place in the designated smoking areas. These areas will be clearly marked with signs.
The smoking ban will be enforced by the police as well as by wardens from the Local Enforcement Systems Agency (LESA) and officials from the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA), the Environmental Health Directorate (EHD), and the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA).
Anyone who breaks the rules of smoking in the areas where smoking is prohibited on these two beaches will result in a fine of €150 — no warnings will be issued.
Through this system, smokers will still be able to enjoy the beach without disturbing others. Containers will be placed in each smoking area to help keep the beach clean.
Minister for the Environment and Energy, Miriam Dalli stated, “This initiative clearly emerged from several meetings and discussions I had with children. It is a concrete environmental measure aimed at addressing a persistent problem, namely cigarette butts that end up on the sand and in the sea and take many years to decompose. These butts cause serious harm to the marine ecosystem and sea life. Through this pilot project, we are taking an important step towards a cleaner and healthier coastal environment. This is another example of how we are working in a concrete way to protect our maritime environment.”
For his part, the Minister for Health and Active Ageing, Jo Etienne Abela, expressed his satisfaction with the prohibition of smoking on a number of beaches. Dr Abela explained that this measure will help achieve three very important goals: safeguarding the lives and health of the Maltese and Gozitan people, protecting the natural heritage of our country, and preserving the environment. “I am confident that this measure will help and be beneficial to citizens’ health when they visit these beautiful beaches,” concluded Minister Abela.
Kevin Mercieca, ERA Chief Executive Officer said, “Designated smoking areas allow us to better protect the coastal environment by reducing waste and plastic pollution that damage our marine ecosystems.”