Malta generated second highest amount of municipal waste per person in EU in 2016

A study published yesterday places Malta second among EU countries on a graph measuring the generation of municipal waste throughout the bloc in 2016 – 150 kilograms above the EU average.

Municipal waste refers to the that mainly generated by households, but also includes waste from sources such as shops, offices and public institutions, according to Eurostat.

The Eurostat report indicates that Malta generated 647 kilograms of municipal waste per person in 2016, second only to Denmark (777 kilograms), and followed by Cyprus (640 kilograms), Germany (626 kilograms) and Luxembourg (614 kilograms).

The EU average of municipal waste generation per person in 2016 was 480 kilograms, meaning Malta placed above the average by 167 kilograms.

The amount has increased gradually over the last few years. In 2014, Malta generated 600 kilograms of municipal waste per person, and 624 kilograms in 2015.

On the opposite end of the scale were Romania (261 kilograms), Poland (307 kilograms) and the Czech Republic (339 kilograms).

Only 7% of generated waste recycled, study shows

Of the 283,000 tonnes of waste generated, only 20,000 tonnes (7%) were recycled, the study shows.

Out of 283,000 tonnes, 255,000 tonnes received ‘total waste treatment’, of which 235,000 tonnes received ‘landfill disposal’, 1,000 tonnes were incinerated (which includes energy recovery), and 20,000 tonnes recycled. No waste was composted, according to the study.

Municipal waste refers to the that mainly generated by households, but also includes waste from sources such as shops, offices and public institutions