Malta needs to clearly identify sustainable waste targets and structure a strategy accordingly, breaking the vicious circle of trying to fit within existing directives, the Church Environment Commission said,

In a report on waste management, the commission said it was concerned that irrespective of the islands’ high population density, limited land space and lack of economies of scale coupled with the effects of its climatic conditions, the Maltese tended to opt for short-term goals.

It considered the consultation document ‘Waste Management Plan for the Maltese Islands: a resource management approach 2013-2020’, a step forward towards putting an end to this trend that benefitted a handful of entrepreneurs to the detriment of the country.

The commission welcomed the concept of merging a strategy, intended for local policy guidance, and a plan, intended for local policy guidance and compliance to the relative EU directive, within one National Waste Management Plan.

“It favourably notes that, while learning from past mistakes, the document acknowledges and builds upon the good practices and decisions that have been established by other administrations.”

The commission expressed concern that certain decisions were still being proposed even in the absence of reliable data.

“The strategy needs to include measures that ensure data collection on a regular basis and mechanisms that review, and possibly re-propose, policies in the light of new emerging evidence.”

Referring to the “transition from waste being seen as a problem to it being considered as a resource”, it said that waste as a resource did not imply encouraging waste generation.

“Changing the predominant mentality about waste necessitates that we channel our creativity and industrial prowess to achieve sustainable solutions,” the commission said.

The commission noted that some thought had been given to the provision of education that was and addressed different audiences with a variety of tools.

“One hopes that words will gradually be translated to action and that this is done professionally. One also hopes that the term waste is taken to include that produced by the construction and demolition industry, and that measures are taken to deal with this very significant and worrying characteristic of waste generation in our islands.”

The report in full can be read in the pdf link below.