Almost two years ago, the European Commission issued a report, based on the waste management efforts of European Union members in 2010, in which the actions of the various states were compared. Malta did badly, coming third from the bottom of the league table, with only Greece and Bulgaria performing worse. Of the 18 criteria used in the Commission’s study, Malta only passed in five.
Malta’s major deficiencies lay in the most important performance criteria. It had still not implemented a waste prevention programme, it still had high levels of land filling and its recycling levels were low and still struggling to meet the targets for biodegradable waste.
A stark statistic: in 2010, Malta was still landfilling over 86 per cent of its municipal waste and recycling about 15 per cent. By 2012, however, the landfilling figure was sharply down to 57 per cent. Landfilling is Malta’s biggest waste problem since disposing of waste in this way is technically the worst way of dealing with it.
Last October, the Minister for Sustainable Development, Environment and Climate Change issued a comprehensive consultation document entitled ‘Waste management plan for the Maltese Islands: a resource management approach 2013 – 2020’.
The Church Environment Commission’s response to this consultation document is generally positive. While castigating Malta’s tendency to opt for short-term goals instead of sustainable long-term solutions, it considers the consultation document a step forward towards ending the trend in waste management which benefitted a few entrepreneurs to Malta’s wider detriment. It welcomed the concept of merging a strategy intended for local policy guidance and a plan intended for local guidance and compliance with the relevant EU directives on waste management within one, unified national waste management plan.
It noted favourably that the consultation document had acknowledged and sought to build upon the good practices and decisions established by previous administrations. It also noted approvingly that some thought had been devoted to the need for education in this field to address different audiences through a variety of different tools.
On the other hand, it highlighted concerns about decisions still being proposed despite the absence of reliable data to support them. It stressed that the strategy needed to be built on ensuring the collection of data on a regular basis combined with mechanisms which then revised policies in the light of the emerging evidence. It encouraged the government to change the mentality of regarding waste solely as a problem to one where it is seen as a potential resource.
The waste management approach adopted by the EU is based on three principles: waste prevention through the reduction of waste generated; recycling and re-use as the means of reducing the overall environmental impact; and improving the means of final disposal of rubbish that cannot be recycled by adhering to strict EU guidelines on landfill management. Efficient waste management is a vitally important matter affecting the quality of life and public health of all citizens. Waste prevention and good rubbish management are essential.
Malta still has some way to go but, encouragingly, judging by the constructive response by the environment commission to the government’s plans for waste management in Malta, the picture seems to be improving.
As it stresses, however: “One hopes that words will be translated into action and that this is done professionally.”