Sixty per cent of domestic waste is organic

Quarterly surveys commissioned by the National Statistics Office in 2002 show that total domestic waste collected in the Maltese islands ranged from 3,133 kgs in the April survey to 3,777 kgs in the October survey, dropping to 3,503 kgs in December.

A analysis of findings also shows that 60 per cent of the domestic waste was organic. This was followed by paper waste, seven per cent, and by cardboard and cartons material, six per cent.

Household participation increased from 56 per cent in the April survey to 72 per cent in the October survey. The December survey involved the participation of 1,666 households, reflecting a 69 per cent participation rate.

Slight variations were recorded in waste generation per household throughout the four surveys.

The greater share of organic waste was generated by Gozitan households - 63 per cent - compared with 57 per cent by Maltese households. The same can be said for glass bottles, textiles and hazardous waste fractions.