Organic bag will be collected three times a week, it was announced during the official launch today.

Official collection will begin on 31 October, and will be on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Organic waste collections are meant to collect all cooked and raw food including bones, fish and shellfish, bread and pasta, rotten fruit and vegetables, fruit and vegetable peels, tea bags and ground coffee, egg shells, napkins and soiled papers, leaves and flowers.

The project was, until now, implemented around a number of localities. The organic bag is used for the collection of foodstuffs, and is being introduced in order to ensure that such material is recycled into, for example, compost or fertilise.

It is expected that 16,000 tonnes of organic waste will be collected in 2019, and will not go to landfill through the scheme, a short video explained.

Environment Minister Jose Herrera called today’s launch historic, calling it a major step moving towards a circular economy. “This initiative will provide additional means by which the public can help contribute towards a dramatic increase in the amount of waste being recycled."

He said that 40% of waste thrown into black bags is organic waste. He said that when one separates waste, one realised how much money they are throwing away, and how many resources are being wasted.” 

He said that the incoming new laws will disincentivise waste. He appealed to the public to cooperate and use the white bag collection service, in order to leave a better quality of life for future generations.

Wasteserv CEO Tonio Montebello stressed the importance of separating organic waste, as per EU directives. He also said that when organic waste goes to landfill, it negatively effects the climate. The organic waste will be sent to the Sant Antnin plant, where the organic waste will be liquefied to generate gas. The material will then be sent to be used for compost or other material. 

Vido Conf - info graphic from The Malta Independent on Vimeo.

Montebello said Wasteserv will be working with local councils and with the waste collection agencies. 60% of the bins being given to every household have thus far been distributed, and the other 40% is still being distributed.

The white bags will be taken to the Sant Antnin plant, while the black bag will go to the Malta North. In the initial phase however, the organic waste in the white bag will need to be mixed with the organic waste in the black bag, which is not ideal, but needed in order to reach critical mass for the Sant Antnin plant to be able to process.

President of the Local Councils Association Mario Fava spoke of the need for adequate enforcement to help the local councils in order for the project to succeed. 

Parliamentary Secretary for Local Government Silvio Parnis said that waste separation is one of government’s largest challenges.

This project will help leave a better environment for future generations, the Parliamentary Secretary said, while highlighting that this will be part of “our legacy”.