During 2012, vandalism to rubbish containers in Málaga, many through burning, cost the Council, and by default the taxpayer, €214,000. In 2011 the figure was €129,000 and in 2010 it was €210,000.
Over 2,700 items of various types, from small bins on the promenade to large containers, had to be replaced during 2012.
Add in the costs of other forms of vandalism, such as graffiti, then the cost to the taxpayer is even greater.
The authorities believe that although surveillance is important in preventing such acts of vandalism, education is actually the key.
Surely there is no-one who does not know that setting fire to a rubbish container is ‘wrong’.