Effectiveness of bring-in sites in Malta

Abstract

There have been significant improvements in waste separation, especially in the past five years, but are the current available facilities living up to their expectations? Bring-in sites in the Maltese Islands have been subject to much discussion. Are they really effective? What are the particular problems associated with these sites and what are the possible solutions? What role do residents and local councils play in the efficiency of these bring-in sites? Three localities were selected in terms of their particular bring-in sites situation. Marsaskala is one of the localities with the most bring-in site facilities, Paola has no bring-in sites, and the locality of Zurrieq removed bring-in sites from its premises. These three localities provide a broad spectrum of the major bring-in site situations in Malta. Fifty residents from each locality answered the compiled questionnaire, and interviews were conducted with the relative local councils; in order to identify present issues and proposed plans. This study tries to determine what causes such a distinct change on such a small island; and also tries to identify whether this depends on the managerial views of local councils or whether residents are responsible for determining the bring-in site situation. The situations which arise from these locations have a direct effect on the overall effectiveness of bring-in site facilities.