A decision to collect both the white and black bags on Mondays will force waste contractors to make two separate rounds per day unless they take measures to prevent the two types of garbage from mixing in the truck.

However, households will not be expected to take out waste bags at different times of day.

This was confirmed by an Environment Ministry spokesman in reply to questions sent by Times of Malta regarding new waste regulations which came into force last Wednesday.

Under the scheme, households are obliged to separate waste and place organic material in white bags, and only use black bags for mixed waste. Moreover, recyclable items such as paper, plastic and metals will be collected separately in green or grey bags.

The regulations also include a detailed schedule for each and every locality, specifying the type of waste being collected on each day of the week. Anyone caught taking out the wrong bag will be liable to a fine. For the time being, however, only warning in the form of a red sticker is being handed out, until people get used to the system.

Decision could complicate matters

While state waste management company Wasteserv has been urging for weeks not to take out the wrong bag, a decision to collect both organic and mixed on Mondays could complicate matters.

Concerns have been raised that this could create confusion and pose difficulties in terms of enforcement.

Asked for the reason behind the decision, the ministry insisted that the schedule was drafted on the strength of the feedback given by local councils. A spokesman pointed out that in cases where two types of waste would be collected on the same day, the rules would apply normally, meaning that bags would have to be taken out no earlier than four hours before.

However, the ministry noted that refuse collectors will either have to make separate collections or else use trucks with multiple compartments. In the former case, this might result in more traffic in central areas already prone to congestion.

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