Malta’s low score in the European Commission’s recent report on waste management is testimony to years of neglect in the field of waste management, even though the issue is receiving more attention as of late.

The Environment Ministry has reacted strongly to criticism, saying that the figures are two years old and that Malta has significantly boosted recycling by 30% since then and registered various other improvements. This is true, we are faring a lot better and we are doing a lot better in many areas. These include engineered landfills, the recycling plants, services offered, gas extraction, filtering and more. But the fact remains, we left the state of our environment on the back-burner for far too long, and we still have a lot left to do in terms of waste management.

Malta was ranked third from last among the EU’s 27 member states, gaining just nine points out of a possible 42. Two of these points were obtained for achieving 100% coverage of municipal waste collection. Obviously, as the smallest country and the one with the greatest population density, Malta was obviously at an advantage: Failing in this regard would have been particularly embarrassing.

It also obtained another two points – the maximum score achievable in each of the criteria measured – because all of its landfills for non-hazardous waste are fully compliant with the Landfill Directive, an achievement inevitably made easier for the country with the smallest number of landfills.

The three points obtained in two related criteria, concerning infringements of EU directives, are also arguably easier to obtain for a smaller country.

But by the same token, Malta’s small size should also give it an advantage in many of the other fields measured.

Implementing policies is a far easier task when one does not need to deal with the same issues larger countries inevitably face, such as the logistical matters brought about by vast geographic expanses, the need to get various regional governments on board, and other such matters. On the other hand, in Malta, the central government has greater influence, despite local councils’ own responsibilities, and the entire country’s infrastructural needs, as far as waste management is concerned, require just a handful of facilities.

Thankfully, the final two points Malta obtained were awarded for an undisputably positive development: A substantial increase in recycling. Recycling levels, however, remain low enough for Malta to earn zero points in related criteria, as it did for energy recovery through incineration, and for, ultimately, the high amount of waste that is simply landfilled.

Malta has no restrictions on landfilling, as the report points out, and statistics clearly show that the absence of restrictions is very much exploited. The criteria measured in the report do indicate the measures used elsewhere to incentivise alternatives, although these may prove unpopular: ‘Pay-as-you-throw systems’ and high charges for landfilling are among them.

Ultimately, what the report provides is a failing grade for Malta’s waste management efforts – or lack thereof – in the past few decades – and we mean going back 30 and 40 years. It also doesn’t excuse the present administration, naturally, but a failure to address the issue or give it any prominence in the past is also to blame. Until relatively recently, waste-related public awareness campaigns only focused on keeping the country clean by avoiding littering: Where the garbage ended up seemed to be of no concern.

The required facilities have now started to be developed, although according to the EU report, Malta still apparently lacked the necessary waste treatment capacity. As the report also points out, waste treatment rates have been going up, but its verdict is also clear: We need to do more.

This leading article may sound harsh, but we need to do more. We have taken great steps over the past few years, now we just need to gather more momentum and build on what has been achieved in the last few years.