Malta generates 340 tonnes of solvent waste per year that could be re-used

Malta generates 340 tonnes of solvent waste per year that could be re-used through innovation, a government statement reads.

“Several may look at science as not being an easy field, however, the best thing to do is to try,” Parliamentary Secretary for Financial Services, Digital Economy and Innovation Silvio Schembri said when around 120 Chemistry students from various secondary schools in Malta and Gozo participated in the project ‘Re-Solve’.

The Re-Solve project is spearheaded by Universal Import and Export Ltd and focuses on the design and development of a novel solvent recycling machine which will enable industries to recycle their own solvent waste. “Malta generates over 340 tonnes of solvent waste per year which is exported for treatment. Re-Solve aims to offer an alternative to this current problem without the need of having to export the waste.”

Schembri encouraged students not to give up and pursue a career in a sector that our country is still developing.

“Several were the inventors who failed at first, however, they kept on trying,” he said.

During the activity, Universal Import and Export Ltd in collaboration with Malta Life Sciences Park and Esplora gave an overview of the project.

During his presentation, researcher and scientist Stefan Mohnani said that using circular economy ideas, waste could be turned into a resource generating prosperity through profits and employment and, more importantly, could help save our planet’s resources and environment to safeguard it for future generations.

The Re-Solve project received funding of circa €200,000 from the Malta Council for Science and Technology through the Fusion programme, which included a feasibility study of the innovation as well as the actual development of the technology. Moreover, a lab was set up in collaboration with Malta Life Sciences Park that has developed and tested a lab scale prototype of this innovative technology.