Waste recycling has been common practice for most of human history as a means not only of saving precious resources but also of maximising their re-use. Beverage bottles in Britain, Ireland and Sweden, for example, have been recycled since at least the early 19th century.

During World War II, and later, the Maltese were renowned for their thrift and ability to recycle whatever they owned.

In the modern day, the European Union’s whole approach to waste management is based on three key platforms.

First, there is the prevention of waste through the reduction of waste generated. Secondly, the recycling and re-use of materials by recovering and recycling them as a means of reducing the overall environmental impact. And, thirdly, improving the means of final disposal of rubbish that cannot be recycled through good landfill management.

Recycling generates good business for the EU, which has about half of the world’s share of waste and recycling industries. Over 60,000 firms in Europe are involved, with an annual turnover of about €24 billion. Malta’s own recycled waste is also sold or exported, thus generating income for the Maltese economy.

Waste recycling in Malta has made considerable strides over recent years, increasing from about 560 tonnes in 2002 to almost 21,000 tonnes annually being sold abroad for recycling in 2011.

The Sant’Antnin recycling plant handles a range of materials, including paper (such as newspapers and magazines), cardboard (cereal and food boxes), plastic containers (drink bottles, plastic bags and bottles of cosmetics) and metal cans for drink and food.

What the plant does not wish to recycle, however, are such unsavoury items as soiled nappies, dead household pets, syringes, shoes and clothing and even large objects such as pushchairs. Yet, these are just some of the disgusting and superfluous non-recyclable items that staff at the plant regularly find among the items presented to them for recycling.

There is clearly a considerable ignorance of what constitutes recyclable waste. But there is also, it is suspected, a deeply ingrained cultural refusal to exercise civic responsibility and to obey the rules. Either way, attitudes must change.

For example, milk and juice cartons are not recycled locally. Medical waste is considered hazardous and should only be disposed of at a civil amenity site. Although glass is recyclable, ornaments, light bulbs, mirrors, window panes and drinking glasses are not. Nor are bottles that contain cleaning agents or batteries and lighters.

The result of people failing to follow the rules on what should be recycled leads to more than a quarter of the waste, which has been sifted by hand by plant employees, either ending up being incinerated or transferred to the Magħtab landfill site. This is wasteful of staff time at the plant. Moreover, the presence of dead pets, syringes or other dangerous materials poses a hazard to those working there.

Two modes of action are required.

First, there is clearly a need for a concerted public information campaign to drive the message home to households which items can or cannot be deposited for recycling. In conjunction with this, there is a need to underline the responsibility of all individuals to exercise their civic duty to ensure that the material that goes to be recycled does not pose a health or safety risk to the employees at the Sant’Antnin plant.