The main aim of the Waste Management (Activity Registration) Regulations is to provide a fast track for the registration and permitting of minor waste management activities.

Under the requirements of these regulations, people engaged in minor waste management activities would be required to register the activity with the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (Mepa), which is the competent authority responsible for the regulation of waste management.

Waste management facilities falling within the scope of these regulations will be exempted from the requirement of a full waste management permit that is normally required under Legal Notice 337/01.

The legal notice covers three categories of waste management activities: very minor activities, which can be carried out without registration; minor activities that need to be notified to Mepa before they are carried out; and waste management activities that need to be notified to the competent authority and also require written conformation by the authority before the activity can be carried out.

Typical examples that fall within the scope of these regulations include the storage of waste, waste transportation and recycling activities. These regulations also cover the registration and permitting of waste carriers and waste brokers, as well as the temporary registration of scrapyards.

The registration of waste carriers is particularly important because only waste carriers that are registered with Mepa will be allowed to operate in Malta.

A copy of the proposed regulations can be viewed on the Mepa website at www.mepa.org.mt. The public is invited to send its comments to the director of the Environment, Waste Management Regulations, St Francis Ravelin, Floriana, by 18 August.

Registration of activities will be possible as soon as the new legislation comes into force.