Malta’s already low recycling totals will possibly become worse by the end of 2007, according to Environmental Science expert Paul Kneller.
He was speaking at a
seminar on Environmental Management – Balancing Profits with the Environment organised by the Health and Safety Institute last month.
Mr Kneller is a senior lecturer in environmental science at the School of Conservation Science of Bournemouth University and has been using Malta as a case study for his students for the last 10 years and is familiar with the local scene.
“The Maltese Islands have had an excellent system for the reuse of glass bottles for soft drinks,” said Mr Kneller.
At the moment beverages containing more than two per cent of alcohol must be stored and sold in glass bottles. “However, this will not be allowed to continue as it breaks another of the major precepts of the EU – namely free trade within member states,” he said.
By the end of 2007, this system will not allowed and cans and plastic bottles will be used instead.
“What will this change do to Malta’s already poor recycling totals?” asked Mr Kneller.
He explained that The Waste Packaging Directive was transposed into Maltese law in 2004. There are two action dates: 31 December 2004 and 31 December 2008 (now 2013).
Malta currently recovers between 27 and 65 per cent of all packaging waste.
Between 25 and 45 per cent of all packaging waste is recycled – 30 per cent for glass, 31 for metals, five for plastics and 30 for paper and cardboard.
However, he said, by the end of 2013, Malta must have a minimum recovery of 60 per cent and between 55 per cent and 80 per cent of recycling.
The minimum specific targets are 60 per cent for glass, 60 for paper and cardboard, 60 for metals, 22.5 for plastics and 15 per cent for wood.
Mr Kneller pointed out that that one of the main precepts of environmental sustainability is reuse.
He spoke about the EU’s sixth environmental action plan that should be implemented in all member states between 2001 and 2010.
Everyone needs to be involved in the action plan – from governments to businesses, policy planners and private citizens.
There are five areas of strategic approach and four priority areas of action.
The strategic approach aims to improve existing legislation while integrating environmental concerns with other policies. The priority areas are climate change, nature and biodiversity, environment and health and management of natural resources and waste.
Mr Kneller mentioned the possibility of working in conjunction with private companies on how to achieve this delicate balance between being profitable and minimising the impact of their operations on the environment.