Changing consumer behaviour to minimise waste generation and increase separation is “the logical way forward” to address the challenges faced by the country, according to Environment Minister Leo Brincat.
He said the government and Wasteserv were committed to embarking on a waste management communications campaign that would be giving the utmost priority to raising awareness about these issues.
“It’s pointless talking about waste treatment plants without focusing on important issues like waste reduction and separation,” Mr Brincat said as he addressed an international conference on the subject organised by Wasteserv.
We need to move away from creating cheaper products that are easily disposed of
The ‘Zero Waste’ conference was organised as part of an EU-funded project between 11 partner organisations, including Wasteserv. Mr Brincat stressed waste management goals were not ambitions but obligations the country had to meet and Malta was one of the EU member states that was lagging behind.
He said it was time for Maltese economists and researchers to focus on how the “circular economy” could reap benefits for the country.
Mr Brincat defined a circular economy as a new industrial system that was regenerative by design, not by default.
A more circular economy would reduce waste, drive greater resource productivity, deliver a more competitive economy, address resource security and scarcity issues and help reduce the environmental impact of production and consumption patterns.
“We need to move away from creating cheaper products that are easily disposed of. We need to keep resources in use for as long as possible.
“We need to extract the maximum value from them while in use and then recover and regenerate products and materials at the end,” Mr Brincat said.
Wasteserv CEO Tonio Montebello admitted the sector faced a number of challenges. It was crucial, he said, that the link between economic growth and waste management was broken.
“We must tackle waste by preventing its production,” Mr Montebello said. “Waste is a resource, not a problem, and people are not a problem but part of the solution.”