Disposal in landfills between 2004 and 2010 accounted for 88.5 per cent of the non-mineral waste managed in Malta, the National Statistics Office said.

It said that although the total amount of waste disposed in landfills fluctuated over the years; an average annual decrease of 3.7 per cent could be observed over this time span.

The largest amount of landfilled waste was recorded in 2008, coinciding with the smallest amount managed at the Sant'Antnin solid waste treatment plant on account of refurbishment works at the plant.

From 2009, the amount of landfilled waste started to decline, with the most notable decrease - 17.9 per cent - observed in 2010. This was due to greater intakes at the Sant'Antnin plant and the start of a process whereby waste started being diverted from landfilling to recovery.

From 2004 to 2010, 89.5 per cent of all non-hazardous mineral waste managed in Malta was treated in quarry sites.

During this period, 93.9 per cent of all non-hazardous mineral waste was disposed of in quarry sites, while the remainder was recycled.

The drop recorded in the disposal of waste at sea mirrored the decline in large-scale excavations for major projects.

With regard to non-mineral waste, recovered waste from 2004 to 2010 accounted for 10.5 per cent, with the largest amount recorded in 2010. During the latter year, almost 50,000 tonnes were treated at the Sant'Antnin plant and the Ghallis landfill separation area.

Before 2010, all non-mineral waste recovery took place at the Sant'Antnin plant; the dip in treated amounts registered in 2007 and 2008 was due to plant refurbishment.

In 2010, treated non-mineral waste increased considerably, attributable to the opening of the mechanical treatment plant at Sant'Antnin.

This equipment separates mixed municipal waste into recyclable and compostable fractions.

The Marsa thermal treatment plant caters mostly for animal tissue waste originating from the slaughter of animals for consumption.

In 2010, 81.4 per cent of all waste treated at the Marsa plant originated from such sources. This plant also incinerates certain hazardous waste types, amounting to 364 tonnes in 2010.

The biggest amounts of waste collected from bring-in sites, civic amenity sites and the grey-bag collection scheme were recorded in 2010.

Of these three, the most notable annual increase - 44.4 per cent - was recorded for the grey-bag collection scheme.