Vehicles and vessels that transport waste now need to register for a license from the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) to keep carrying out their activity.

The authority said the new requirement was being introduced so as to better regulate the transport of waste from the producer to permitted facilities that are authorized to accept the relevant category of waste.

"This registration system will assist the authority in ensuring that wastes are handled in the appropriate manner, and that wastes are carried to authorized facilities that are competent in the management and disposal of such wastes. Ultimately, the objective of this registration is to help the prevention of waste escaping into the environment, and contributing towards a cleaner, less wasteful and more sustainable society," MEPA said.

Registration starts this month. The regulations will apply to the following categories of waste carriers:

Class A - General waste carrier including refuse compaction vehicles, trucks, trailed vehicles and skip loaders used for the transport of non-hazardous and inert waste but excluding liquid waste carriers (which should be classified as Class D).

Class B - Vessels used for the transport of waste at sea. This includes vessels exclusively used for carriage of waste such as dredging barges. It does not include vessels which carry waste in containers or vehicles, and which also carries general goods.

Class C - Healthcare Waste and Slaughterhouse Waste Carriers.

Class D - Hazardous Waste carriers other than Class C and carriers of liquid waste.