Authorities in Sicily, Italy, have released footage of a dog transporting waste to an illegal landfill near Catania.
The cunning dog is seen holding a large garbage bag in its teeth and carefully leaving it on the side of the road, according to video released by the municipality of Catania.
"The environmental unit of the municipal police of Catania has published two videos recorded by surveillance cameras, where a dog is seen depositing a bag of garbage on the street. This behavior is both cunning and doubly unfair, because in addition to polluting the city, it tries to avoid the rules by unknowingly exploiting the four-legged friend. Respect for urban order and the environment is everyone's duty," the local authority said in a Facebook post.
According to the post, the person responsible has been identified and fined.
This episode highlights a growing problem throughout Italy.
The situation is particularly problematic in the southern provinces and islands, where waste collection sometimes reaches only 57%, meaning that waste can sit in containers and bins for days.
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Almost 10,000 waste-related violations are recorded each year, including illegal dumping, burning and landfilling, according to environmental group Legambiente. This has prompted many municipalities to install surveillance cameras to monitor illegal activities.
Fines for illegal waste disposal range from 1,500 euros to 18,000 euros and in some cases can even lead to criminal prosecution.
