The car scrappage scheme has taken more than 5,000 old cars off the road in two years, according to Environment Minister Mario de Marco.

Dr de Marco said the scheme was part of the Government’s efforts to bring down pollution and improve air quality across the islands.

Motorists driving cars above a certain age were offered a rebate of up to €2,000 on the price of a new car if they scrapped their old vehicle.

In 2011 some 3,000 motorists benefited from the government scheme and this year the number of beneficiaries is almost 2,300.

Dr de Marco was speaking at the planning authority offices yesterday where a mobile air quality monitoring station was unveiled.

He said the Government was considering a similar scheme for commercial vehicles to replace old ones with newer Euro Six models.

The average age of Malta’s car population is 13 years.

Kevin Mercieca, unit manager at the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, said that energy generation and cars were the two biggest polluters.

He explained the mobile air monitoring station would complement Mepa’s five fixed stations and give the authority more flexibility.

Mepa monitors air quality as part of the country’s EU obligations and publishes the results in real time on its website.