Josè Herrera, Minister for Environment, Sustainable Development and Climate Change
Last week, I announced the government’s decision for a waste-to-energy solution. This will be an important element in a complex mosaic that is the national waste infrastructure. As expected, genuine environmentalists were concerned that such a plant would imply that Malta will be abandoning its recycling efforts.
I would like to put everybody’s mind at rest that nothing would be further from the truth.
Malta has transposed a number of waste-related European Union directives through which we have established a series of targets. These targets have been included in the national waste management plan – covering the period from 2014 up until 2020 – to limit the generation of waste as much as possible.
The plan, which was designed in line with the EU Waste Framework Directive, establishes the following: recycle 50 per cent of paper, plastics, metal and glass waste from households by 2020; allow only 35 per cent (based on 2002 levels) of biodegradable municipal waste to be landfilled by 2020; an overall recycling target of a minimum of 55 per cent of packaging waste and an overall recovery target of at least 60 per cent of the same waste.
The sad reality is that, despite the fact that we all generate waste, we do not all have the commitment and resolve to play our part in valorising waste as a resource. At 600kgs of generated waste per inhabitant per annum, we are the sixth largest generator of waste in the European Union and we are well behind and struggling to achieve our municipal solid waste-related targets. Waste does not self-generate nor does it separate itself. There is one central actor that needs to complement the government’s investment in the sector – society.
Endeavouring to maximise our recycling capabilities is a civic responsibility
The Waste Management Plan had made the issue of societal behaviour clear and had warned of the consequences of inaction. This inaction cannot be allowed to prevail. We must not only look towards meeting our 2020 obligations, but at this stage we should be preparing our plan to meet the more ambitious 2030 targets that are expected to be adopted by the EU, within the context of the new waste legislation which is being discussed within the Circular Economy Package.
This is the fundamental basis of the proposed waste to energy plant. Thus, while keeping our obligations to meet the 2020 and 2030 objectives, the government provides a modern infrastructure to dispose of the remaining waste fraction through other means than landfills. Through this measure the government is providing the necessary infrastructure for future waste management. However, it is now time for society to raise its bar and contribute in reaching our targets.
The government has been trying to create an awareness on the importance of proper waste management through the Don’t Waste Waste Campaign. The reality is that Malta has a lot of catching up to do and our difficulties are a call to action to all stakeholders – local councils, social partners, political parties, waste operators, commercial entities and every resident on these islands – to do their bit. We ask no more than that little effort to minimise waste by making responsible consumption choices, to separate that waste which is inevitably generated and to make use of the facilities that are provided without any cost whatsoever.
Time is not to our advantage. The government intends to make sure that we all up our performance to make a difference. We are looking at legislative tools, enforcement actions and recycling initiatives. The recently announced ‘bottle refund scheme’ is one such example. Endeavouring to maximise our recycling capabilities is a civic responsibility.
While I appreciate that there are a number of you out there that understand and contribute towards this responsibility, we need this to apply to each and every one of us.
Karol Aquilina, Opposition spokesman on the Environment, Sustainable Development and Climate Change
These have been a terrible four years for the environment and general quality of life in Malta. The government has been looking the other way since its election in 2013 and a whole legislature has gone to waste as we approach stringent national and European Union environmental deadlines in 2020.
The country has committed itself to ambitious targets, including improving energy efficiency by 20 per cent, recycling 50 per cent of household waste and reducing greenhouse emissions by 20 per cent.
One of the worst-hit areas in environmental policy is waste management with the volume of waste soaring out of proportion, especially as a result of the thoughtless explosion in high-rise projects.
The collection and treatment of waste has grown into a national challenge and is slipping out of the government’s control. Data shows that there are encouraging trends across the European Union with the generation of municipal waste decreasing by five per cent in the space of four years, down to 477 kilos per person.
The collection and treatment of waste has grown into a national challenge and is slipping out of the government’s control
In Malta, though, things are going the other direction and waste generation per capita over the same period has risen to more than 600 kilos.
After four and half years of ignoring the signs, the Labour government has now set up a technical committee to push through its hurried decisions in 90 days. The Prime Minister has made public calls for the Opposition to join this committee on ‘Waste to Energy’ and has been attacking the Nationalist Party for refusing to walk into its parlour.
The Prime Minister has developed a pattern of averting objection by delegating government decisions to committees and boards that include possible critics. The government’s appointees always make up the critical portion of members to make sure that Labour’s agenda is approved.
The invitation for the Nationalist Party to join a public committee is entirely misguided because the constitutional role of the Opposition is precisely to keep the government in check and that is precisely what the Nationalist Party intends to keep doing.
The government confuses the role of the Opposition if it expects it to silently comply with its waste mismanagement plot. The Prime Minister should treat the public respectfully and declare his true intentions before inviting the Opposition to sit on any public committee.
The Nationalist Party has demonstrated its vision and leadership in environmental matters not only by pushing the subject on the national agenda but, more importantly, by formulating a studied, comprehensive plan that is outlined in a solid policy document. The plan, praised for its deep understanding of issues and solutions-oriented approach, made clear the party’s commitment to higher standards in waste management.
It is clear that the Labour government cares little for the waste problem it has allowed to develop over a legislature of neglect. The Labour government is rather interested in gaining legitimacy for its choices from the Opposition before it presents the recommendations to the House of Representatives.
Waste management is a critical issue with far-reaching implications on public health, the economy and the general quality of life.
This country deserves a comprehensive strategy that is able to oversee the entire cycle ranging from waste production, to collection and disposal.
The Nationalist Party is committed to a new, sensible waste management vision based on expert research and next-generation solutions.
If you would like to put any questions to the two parties in Parliament send an e-mail marked clearly Question Time to editor@timesofmalta.com.