Even though the Maltese are known to generate the most rubbish per head in Europe, they are far more likely than their counterparts on the mainland to be against paying a tax on waste disposal.

Only 14.2 per cent, of some 1000 Maltese respondents to a recent Eurobarometer survey, agreed that taxation should be used to curb waste generation.

This contrasts with the EU’s average, which stood at 32 per cent of those surveyed in the other 26 member states. In some member states, this support goes up to more than 60 per cent, such as in Italy (65 per cent) and Romania (61 per cent).

The survey, conducted by Misco, shows that while there is support for waste separation at source, the preferred methods to encourage the practice are better collection services and more enforcement of current rules.

Some 76 per cent said they were ready to do more waste separation at home if more deposit sites were created, while 69.2 per cent said there should be more information on how waste should be separated.

The majority of Maltese households, 90 per cent, said they already practised some form of waste separation and were ready to increase it.

However, although according to the latest available statistics the Maltese population is one which generates most waste in the EU – 647 kg per capita in 2009 against the EU’s average of 513 kg – the majority, 62 per cent, still think they do not produce too much of it.

As many as 66 per cent admitted throwing away up to 15 per cent of the food they bought due to bad calculations while shopping or cooking. Another eight per cent estimate they throw out up to 30 per cent of their food.

The survey’s results, released yesterday in Brussels, also show that Maltese consumers are less keen than their European counterparts to buy second hand.

While in the EU, 36 per cent said they would be ready to buy second-hand clothes, only 15 per cent of the Maltese felt comfortable with this. The same applies to electronics and furniture items.

In general, the survey shows a lack of awareness about just how much waste individual households generate. In 21 of the 27 EU countries, most citizens felt their households did not produce too much rubbish.

Waste in figures

• 90 per cent of the Maltese separate waste at home

• 62 per cent don’t think they produce too much rubbish

• 66 per cent throw away 15 per cent of their food

• Only 15 per cent feel comfortable with buying second hand goods