Malta is still struggling with Mount Maghtab. Years after the previous administration began to tackle it, the trucks are still there carrying inert waste and dumping it on the top to try and make it look ‘normal’ and landscape it. The fact that it is one of the highest points on the island illustrates just how bad the situation was. The previous administration improved the situation by introducing the idea of recycling, bring in sites and civic amenity sites, where people can dump all manner of waste that will eventually be recycled, rather than landfilled. The new administration has stepped that up and has put a further emphasis on recycling and waste reduction. So far, so good. But the only way to make real progress, is to change people’s mindsets. One of the new measures that has been put forward is that of decreasing the frequency of collection of non-recyclable waste and increasing the frequency of collection of recyclable waste.

Many people around Malta do use the recycling service, but how many people actually really separate their waste and try to make sure that each and every item is scrutinised before being chucked into a black bag instead of a grey one?

Moreover, how many people look at their grey bags and realise just how much waste can actually be recycled rather than thrown in the bin?

Malta is too reliant on landfills. The current landfill site will be full in around five years time and the government needs to identify a new site. The new system will also cater for the collection of organic waste: ie: food. This form of waste can also be used as fertilizer, and well and truly, should be put to good use in compost heaps, rather than landfills.  At the end of the day it will boil down to a simple system, three separate bags: one for mixed waste, one for recycling and one for organic waste, namely food.

A new landfill site still needs to be identified and will have to last for 25 years. The Sant Antnin plant in Marsascala has to maximise efficiency and increase its intake, and another new plant at Ghallis, which is set to be operational by 2015, will also help in implementing the plan.

At the end of the day, waste management does not only affect the environment but also our health.  We must learn to be less reliant on waste trucks coming to our door every day. We must be more careful about what we chuck in the bin and we must also be more careful about what we think is recyclable and what isn’t. As always, it is the younger generation that are the leaders, but we cannot afford to wait for today’s 10 year olds to be grow up and implement change. It must be us. We must do it and we must do it fast. We already have one mountain of rubbish (literally) and we cannot afford to have another. It just cannot happen.