A working group has been asked to come up with recommendations for Malta to reduce its food waste and make better use of the waste that is thrown away.

Environment Minister Leo Brincat said 22 per cent of total waste generated every year was food based.(A year ago, the National Statistics Office said  22 per cent of the food purchased weekly by people in Malta ends up in the solid waste stream).

(A video shown during the launch of the working group)

This, he said, was not a problem that was unique to Malta, but the country and its people would save money and help the environment if there was less waste.

He said the working group includes representatives of all interested parties, including hotels and restaurants, supermarkets, local councils, waste disposal companies, the governemnt and the Church's environment commission. The Opposition has also been invited to nominate a representative.

Anton B Dougall, a member of the working group, said the biggest source of food waste was households, and the easiest way how waste could be reduced was for people to plan their purchases and cooking so that they only cooked the portions they needed.

It was also important that products were checked so that they did not have to be thrown away because they were past their expiry date. 

The working group, which is chaired by Lisa Cassar Shaw, was asked to produce its report within two months.