Brincat announces waste collection pilot project

Malta’s increasing waste output is a by-product of its own economic success and the next step in waste management is the implementation of a system for the collection of commercial waste.

This was the essence of a joint statement by Minister for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate Change, Leo Brincat and Parliamentary Secretary for Local Government Stefan Buontempo on the occasion of the 2015 Local Council Awards organised by the GreenPak cooperative.

During the awards, which reward local councils who have “distinguished themselves in the way they manage waste in their catchment areas,” Brincat also announced a pilot project for the collection of organic waste in five localities. The project builds on the concept of separation of waste at source by adding a third category of waste collected – organic waste.

He expressed pride at the fact that the eco-contribution tax on electric and electronic goods would be abolished as from this September, which he said would strengthen the environment and give added impetus to trade in Malta.

“The extensive consultation with the stakeholders in this process not only gives us satisfaction, but is also the model with which we intend to follow in every reform we will be making,” said Brincat.

“If these reforms succeed, I believe that the environment in your towns can only get better, especially where there is a high volume of trade.”

Brincat committed himself to continue to “demand greater synergy” with WasteServ to “strengthen the links in the waste management chain,” which if done right, could create more jobs and increase economic activity.

For his part, Buontempo highlighted the connection between economic growth and increased waste output and its associated problems.

“As a nation, Malta has an important choice to make. We can either choose to dump refuse in landfills or be smarter about it and try to re-use or find different uses for our waste.”

Buontempo said that he hoped local councils will take their waste-separation obligations, so as to “leave future generations a more beautiful country that ours had found.”