The new amendments to the Subsidiary Legislation 549.40; “Abandonment, Dumping and Disposal Of Waste In Streets and Public Places Or Areas Regulations” were very much needed for the sake of a healthier environment. In addition, it also ensures that Malta complies with its commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 5% and 10% of the total energy consumption and generation of renewable energy resources.[1] This is due to the fact that with the Thermal Treatment Facility, most of our waste is turned into energy, thus making Malta a more sustainable country both economically and also environmentally.
There are 4 types of waste as specified in this legislation;
- “Garden Waste” includes garden remnants such as clippings, logs, leaves and flowers;
- “Mixed Waste” includes mixed refuse, intended for collection by the respective Local Council’s agent or contractor, on the indicated day. A Black Bag should be used.
- “Organic Waste ” includes organic or biodegradable refuse containing food and kitchen waste, leaves and flowers, intended for collection, by the respective Local Council’s agent or contractor, on the indicated day. A White Bag should be used.
- “Recyclable Waste” includes co-mingled paper, plastic and metal refuse, intended for collection by the respective Local Council’s agent or contractor, on the indicated day. A Grey or Green Bag should be used.
The regulations specify that no person shall litter in any public place, street, sea, or open space to which the public has access unless such action is lawfully authorized. One can be held liable for a fine of not less than €150 and not exceeding €300. The same fine will be applied in cases where one leaves any used box, bag, bottle, tin, cartoon or any other container, paper, straw or other material used for packaging, on the street to be collected unless it is made at a time reasonably approximate to the time at which there is normal litter collection. It is also unlawful for a person to take out the wrong type of refuse for collection according to the Local Council schedule of refuse collection whereby Organic Waste is collected every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
In specific cases where the dumping or swilling of litter is done in close proximity to any historical or environmental important sites, one would be liable to an additional fine (multa) of not less than three hundred euro (€300) and not exceeding one thousand euro (€1,000) to the established fine (multa).
This law also applies to any street seller or a person selling from a stall in a public place, whereby these are obliged to keep the public space and the vicinity in a clean and sanitary condition, during and after operating times. In cases where these stalls are operating on a specific occasion like an open-air market or a village feast, Local Councils need to ensure that bins for the separate collection of waste are provided either by themselves or at the expense of the licensed stall owner or street seller.
[1] https://www.wasteservmalta.com/ttf
This shall not be construed to be as advice but shall merely serve as a brief description of the Organic Waste disposal. If you would like to get to know more how these proposed changes will affect you please do not hesitate to contact us on [email protected].