Malta is EU laggard in recycling waste

Malta's waste recycling efforts have fallen below par and now ranks at the bottom of European efforts to improve recycling and minimise waste generation, a report by the European Environment Agency has found.

Malta was one of 26 EU countries that recorded an increase in the generation of municipal waste, with absolutely no evidence of improved waste prevention.

In fact, Malta's yearly average recycling rate worsened over the past decade, from some 0.2% in 2006 down to -1.5% of municipal waste in 2010. However, it appears that the percentage of landfilled municipal waste was on the decrease during 2010.

Malta is one of nine countries - Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Poland and Portugal - who will need an annual increase rate between 2-4 percentage points to achieve their 50% recycling rate in 2020. In 2010, Malta was recycling 13% of its generate municipal solid waste, the EEA report shows.

"The figures speak for themselves," environment minister Leo Brincat said. "Our scoring in recycling efforts over the four-year period till 2010 remains negative, leaving us ranked as the last amongst the whole list of members states of the EU. Apart from formulating waste management plans, nothing seems to have been done to develop effective policy instruments to address the situation."

Brincat said the tallest order is how or when, "or rather if Malta manages as laggard" to reach the 50% recycling target by 2010.

"We will be doing our best to address such a major deficit that has been kept under wraps over the years."

Overall 35% of municipal waste was recycled in Europe in 2010, a significant improvement on 23% in 2001. But many countries will find it extremely difficult to meet EU-mandated targets to recycle 50% of household and similar waste by 2020.

The United Kingdom increased the share of municipal waste recycling from 12 to 39% between 2001 and 2010, while Ireland raised recycling rates from 11 to 36% over the same period. Slovenia, Poland and Hungary have also dramatically improved recycling rates since joining the EU.

Recycling rates are highest in Austria, with 63%, followed by Germany (62%), Belgium (58%), the Netherlands (51%) and Switzerland (51%).

Recycling can reduce greenhouse gases and save valuable resources. This is because recycled materials replace virgin materials. From a life-cycle perspective, changing municipal waste treatment between 2001 and 2010 has successfully cut greenhouse gas emissions from municipal waste by 56%, or 38 million tonnes of CO₂-equivalent in the EU, Norway and Switzerland, the report says.