Waste management in the locality of San Ġwann : investigating the current waste management scheme and compare it to the previous one

Abstract

On average the European Union (EU) generates more or less 2 billion tonnes of waste, which includes mainly hazardous waste, and this figure is rising gradually every year (Europa, 2009). Consequently, the EU has published guidelines to be in line with contemporary trends in environmental policy, since today's waste management attitude is surrounded by sustainability and environmental awareness. To achieve sustainable waste management, it is obligatory to put into practice such measures that require waste producers to take responsibility for the waste they produce. Hence, the EU Member States adopt a strategy based and developed on the concept of a waste management hierarchy. This means: to give importance to waste prevention, recycling and reuse, improvement of disposal and regulation of transport of waste. In the Maltese Islands, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) is the competent Authority for regulating waste management. In addition, WasteServ Malta Limited, is the company that has most responsibility regarding the recycled waste of these islands. In order to get in line with the Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC of the EU, this legislation was reformed into two Maltese Legal Notices; Legal Notice 277 of 2006 and Legal Notice 63 of 2007, and these notices have to be based at a micro-scale economy; such as local councils (San Gwann Local Council, 2009).