In these last few years, there has been a general feeling of increased awareness towards waste separation. This is evident from the various enquiries WasteServ receives, for example by local councils, opinions expressed in the press and individual enquiries.

One of the main issues in the disposal of waste from households is that mixed waste has rendered it very difficult to recover waste fractions and then make use of these resources. Thus, it is of utmost importance that waste is separated before it is contaminated with other organic waste fraction.

Following the successful establishment of bring-in sites by WasteServ, in association with local councils, the public is now able to dispose of and separate clean, source-segregated recyclable materials. Apart from this, WasteServ is keeping the ball rolling with the introduction of Civic Amenity Sites for domestic separated bulky waste to enable the recovery of bulky waste for recycling and specific treatment.

Civic Amenity Sites

These Civic Amenity Sites, or centres for bulky waste, are controlled facilities where members of the public can bring and discard a variety of waste items separately. These centres are meant to facilitate the separate disposal of bulky material such as appliances, electronics, furniture, waste from DIY activities, garden waste, cloths, waste oils and household hazardous waste such as solvents, neon tubes and paints. The centres’ aim is to establish a service to centralize the collection of separated waste and, therefore, facilitate the recovery of secondary materials for recycling.

The total weight of the bulky waste disposed of during 2006 amounts to 48,655 tonnes. WasteServ encourages the public to ‘bring – sort – deposit’ of their bulky waste at the Civic Amenity Sites and encourages in the recovery of the potential resources from this waste stream.

What can be disposed

of at CA Sites

One may dispose of the following items in separate containers:

• Recyclable waste such as paper, carton, glass, metal and plastic

• Bulky waste such as furniture, mattresses, carpets, tiles and appliances

• Garden waste

• Oils – cooking oil and engine oil

• Household hazardous waste, such as batteries including car batteries, solvents, neon tubes, medicines, chemicals, paints and varnishes, colourings, disinfectants, hair dye, nail polish and nail polish remover, fertilizer and fertilizer residues, pesticides and insecticides, turpentine, thermometers (with mercury), adhesives and glues

• White goods such as fridges, cookers, freezers and microwaves

• Electronic waste such as computers, monitors, mobile phones, printers, toys, transmitters, electronic tools, watches and clocks

• Construction waste in small quantities and generated from DIY work

• Cloths and textiles

• Tyres

WasteServ is introducing a section in each Civic Amenity Site so that the general public may start deposit items not required for their use but which are not to be discarded as waste. Such items will then be sold at a nominal fee or given to entities which can then reuse them and help people in need. More information about the disposal of such items will be given soon.

How to go about it

The civic amenity complex itself makes things easy for the general public to avail itself from the facilities to dispose of any rejected bulky items. One can just drive in and dispose of any unwanted material in the containers, which are all labelled to make the process a simple one. These facilities are also manned by a trained workforce who will help the public, who can enter with their car into the site, to dispose of waste separately in these specific containers.

Where and when to visit

It is an established fact that the Maltese family keeps a very tidy and well organised house. This culture must have created an urge to dispose of our household waste at the earliest.

Thus, these Civic Amenity Sites are open to receive and assist the public from 7.30am to 5.30pm during all days of the week, including Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. In this way, this provides a facility for the disposal of waste without the need to store and wait for collection from our houses.

Also, open Civic Amenity Sites are situated at Mriehel and Maghtab, with another one opening very soon in Hal Far, and with two more to be developed in Luqa and at Tal-Kus, Gozo. With these five CA Sites scattered around the Maltese islands, the general public will have a continuum of professional services that they can avail themselves from.

Why to separate

Waste separation is essential for waste to be managed in a more efficient and sustainable manner. When waste is separated before thrown away, material that can be recycled is not polluted by other waste matter. In this way, the material collected is cleaner, making it easier to process. Thus, this will result in high quality recycled products.

Waste separation also makes us more conscious of the amount of waste we generate and of the work and investment which is required to manage it.

Waste separation at source can enhance the homogeneity of the waste recovered and minimise its level of contamination. Both the technical and economic hurdles for recycling can then be lowered and this increases the recycling viability.

Preventing, reducing and recycling waste is at the heart of sustainable waste management. Sustainable waste management is about using resources more efficiently, and in order to do so, the cooperation from one and all is called for.

In conclusion, WasteServ would like to take the opportunity to thank all stake-holders, especially the general public, who are continuously contributing to the success in waste

separation.

More information about WasteServ Malta Ltd is available on their website www.wasteservmalta.com or by calling the WasteServ freephone 8007-2200.