Last Summer, with another ten students specialising in Communications, Geography, Education and Sociology, I was asked to join the Progett Skart team to work on the implementation of waste separation in Swieqi. My main role was to put forward the message to residents and to communicate the importance of adopting this system.
The waste we generate is a mirror of our lifestyle and our values. How much waste we generate depends on how much we consume and also how we consume. It is only lately that we have become aware of the huge waste problem we are being faced with.
And yet as individuals, we might not be doing enough to reduce this problem. We now know that unmanaged waste is hazardous to our health and the environment; a clear example of this is our own mount Maghtab. We need a radical change in the way we manage our waste.
Researchers have found out that each household in Malta produces around 1.3 tonnes of waste per year of which 60 per cent is biodegradable. Such waste can be turned into compost and used in agriculture.
According to the solid waste management plan for Malta, it is planned that by 2020 landfilling of biodegradable waste is to be reduced to 35 per cent.
For this to be made possible there has to be a shift in waste management and for this to be successful, the involvement of the whole of society is required.
Waste separation makes it possible for recycling of waste to take place, yet waste separation must start in the home. Progett Skart is slowly introducing a new waste separation system in households as part of the waste management strategy.
The Progett Skart team is organising house visits to each household to explain the system, which has so far been introduced in Swieqi, but which will event-ually be introduced to all towns and villages in Malta.
The new waste separation system is simple but it takes time getting used to the change. We have been so used to chucking everything in one bin that the change comes to us initially as a culture shock. In the household, waste is to be separated into three parts: biodegradable waste, recyclable waste and other waste.
Biodegradable waste is mainly kitchen waste, such as fruit and vegetable peel, meat leftovers and wet paper, like milk cartons and wet tissues. For this purpose, biodegradable bags made of cornstarch are being distributed.
The biodegradable bags are collected in Swieqi three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, and are taken for composting at the Sant'Antnin recycling plant rather than being dumped at Maghtab.
Various difficulties have immediately been reported to Progett Skart. The comments and feedback communicated by people who have started waste separation is precious. It is useful, so that the necessary steps are taken to upgrade the system and make it as efficient as possible.
Recyclable waste such as paper, glass, metal and plastic can be used to make new products or even generate energy. By recycling, money is saved and resources conserved while keeping landfills smaller and less toxic.
Recycling waste like glass bottles, plastic containers, news-papers and food cans, should be collected in a grey garbage bag that is given to households purposely. This bag is being collected in Swieqi once a week on a Thursday.
Many people have commented that they came to realise the great amount of plastic they were using. Some also said that whatever they bought, even small objects, came in plastic containers. So the grey bag is filled quickly.
Following this feedback, Progett Skart is emphasising the need for bring-in sites in all localities. These bring-in sites are places where people can go and dispose of recyclable materials at their convenience. Such sites are already available in Pembroke.
The Malta Environment and Planning Authority is currently processing permits to have similar ones in Swieqi.
Progett Skart has also introduced the collection of waste oils. Waste oil is a hazardous waste, yet most of it ends up in the drains or at the Maghtab landfill. Around 721,000 litres of the 4,500,000 litres imported in the form of lubricating and other oils is disposed of incorrectly. Cooking oil used in the home can be collected and recycled into bio diesel.
Progett Skart stickers can be stuck on old containers or plastic bottles, but they should only be used for cool waste oil. The containers will be collected on the same day as the grey bag, but must not be put in the bag.
There are things that unfortunately cannot be re-used or recycled, such as dust, cloth, cigarette filters, shoes, fruit juice packets and other things.
These are disposed of in a separate bag such as the black garbage or a normal plastic bag and are collected once a week. It is advisable that things like shoes and clothes are considered for reuse before disposal.
Progett Skart provides assistance and advice on a free phone number, tel. 80072200.
This new system is something that has to be done. It is the only alternative to solve our huge waste problem.
This project is not simply another government project but it is a very important project, which belongs to us all.
The environment we live in is our home, and we should all contribute towards a more sustainable form of development.
Ms Suda is a communications student, who was posted with Progett Skart last summer to fulfil her work phase.