One World - Climate Change: Monitoring Malta's efforts (2)

Emissions sources in the waste sector include solid waste disposal, wastewater handling, waste incineration and compost production. In 2007, the waste sector contributed 6.6 % of the total national Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions.

Industrial and municipal solid waste disposed in Maltese landfills decays slowly and leads to methane (CH4) emissions. Although quantities of industrial waste landfilled have decreased due to improved recycling practices, the municipal waste generation rate per capita has doubled, from the years 1996 to 2004. Following 2004, fewer waste volumes going to landfill have been recorded, possibly as a result of the better waste management practices.

In 2007, the solid waste category contributes 79 % of GHG emissions within the waste sector, equivalent to 8.2 kilo tonnes CH4. Emissions from wastewater handling contribute 19 %, whereas the contribution from compost production and waste incineration are less than 2 % and 1% respectively.

It is estimated that GHG emissions from the Waste Sector will increase by 6 % over the year 2005 emissions levels in the year 2020. Given that waste is one of the sectors covered by the EU's new effort sharing agreement, which limits Malta's emissions to 5 % above 2005 emissions, all future polices and measures should assess the effect on emissions to ensure that our national target is met.

Environmental tip: Did you know that it is best to invest in your own office coffee mug instead of using disposable plastic or paper cups? If you drink two coffees a day, you would be saving approximately 400 plastic cups in one year.