Residents of the largest and smallest localities in Malta will this week start disposing of their food waste separately in white bags in a bid to reduce the burden on landfills.

Some 33,000 people from 12,000 households in Birkirkara, Mdina, Cospicua, Ta’ Xbiex and Għaxaq have been included in a pilot project coordinated by Wasteserv that will kick off this Friday and run until the end of January. The project will then be extended to other localities.

The introduction of white bags aims to improve the performance of the mechanical biological treatment plants, while also reducing municipal waste from landfills.

By 2020, only 35 per cent of biodegradable municipal waste will be allowed into landfills.

Such organic waste could be used to produce compost and even energy, such as that currently produced by the Sant Antnin plant to heat up the Inspire swimming pool.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, project managers Clyde Falzon and Elaine Briffa said the organic white bags will be collected on Mondays and Fridays. Residents in the five localities have received 25 compostable bags and an aerated seven-litre bin to decrease the chances of decomposition and unpleasant odours.

Mr Falzon said the bins were medium sized to make households aware of the food they were throwing away. The exercise would also help Wasteserv see whether it needed to increase the frequency of organic waste collection.

According to a sample taken from black bags containing mixed waste in these five localities, 48 per cent of the waste was recyclable, while a quarter was related to food and food preparation waste.

The sample of the contents of the black bags will be compared to another sample collected towards the end of these three months.

Chief strategy officer Suzanne Cassar Dimech said waste with a strong smell, such as fish remains, could be disposed of in the black bag if the collection of the organic bag was not due for some days.

The project will take into account the impact of the flea markets in Birkirkara and Cos-picua, and a van will be following the waste collector’s truck to monitor the collection.

It is running in collaboration with the environment and local government ministries, the packaging waste schemes GreenPak and Green MT, local councils and waste collectors.

The new waste disposal containers.

What should you throw in the white bag?

• Cooked and raw food, with bones included
• Fish and shellfish
• Bread and pasta
• Rotten fruit and vegetables
• Fruit and vegetable peels
• Tea bags and ground coffee
• Eggshells
• Napkins and soiled paper
• Leaves and flowers

What type of waste do you produce*?

52% Food remains
18% Paper and cardboard
12% Plastic containers
6% Glass
4% Metal

*2012 figures