Significant improvements are needed to put waste management in line with the waste hierarchy, a report by the European Commission has warned.

“Malta has not capitalised yet on turning waste into resource and low recycling rates into business opportunities,” the report warned.

The country report on the Environment Implementation Review (EIR), published earlier in April, provided an update to the 2017 recommendations that had been made by the Commission.

Since the 2017 EIR, Malta has yet to organise a national dialogue that could address the challenges listed that year.

The report noted progress on meeting the recommendations, but warned significant improvements needed to be made to put waste management in line with the waste hierarchy.

“The recycling rate is too low, far below the EU average and the landfill rate remains too high – over three times the EU average,” the report warned. Urgent reforms and enforcement actions are needed in important areas such as waste collection, the report said.

“Malta has not capitalised yet on turning waste into resource and low recycling rates into business opportunities,” it said.

It noted some progress in addressing air quality and traffic congestion but said reducing emissions was still a pressing issue.

The report also warned further action was needed to reach habitats and species’ conservation objectives. 

The report insisted that hunting and trapping practices must be aligned with the Birds Directive. In June, the EU Court of Justice ruled that by allowing the capture of seven species of finches, Malta has failed to fulfil its obligations under EU law.