Separate Collection Systems in the Maltese Islands Opportunities

Separate Collection Systems in the Maltese Islands Opportunities & Barriers encountered by Green. Pak ISWA / RDN / EXPRA Workshop Novotel Bucharest City Center, Romania th 9 October 2014

The Maltese Islands Location Central Mediterranean Population 420, 000 + Area 316 km² Population Density 1, 562 km² Municipalities 68 ISWA / RDN / EXPRA Workshop – 9 th October 2014

The Maltese Islands – Waste Management � Annual MSW Generation 250, 000 tonnes � Estimated packaging on the market 90, 000 tonnes � Number of registered waste carrier vehicles 3000+ � Number of permitted waste management facilities 40+ ISWA / RDN / EXPRA Workshop – 9 th October 2014

` Separate Collection Systems for Dry Recyclables from Municipalities in the Maltese Islands ISWA / RDN / EXPRA Workshop – 9 th October 2014

Opportunities � Introduction of separate collection systems has resulted in an increase in local green jobs: � Compliance Schemes � Collection Service � Waste Management Facilities � Malta has a high landfilling rate (87%). Separate collections has contributed to reduction in landfilling rates � Introduction of separate collections has increased awareness and civic sense amongst the local population ISWA / RDN / EXPRA Workshop – 9 th October 2014

Barriers � Low � No landfill fees local market for recycled materials or products � Households do not pay any fees for waste management � Malta relies heavily on export for final recycling ISWA / RDN / EXPRA Workshop – 9 th October 2014

Barriers � Lack of enforcement on producer responsibility Directives � 60% of all packaging placed on the market not registered � Competition at scheme level hinders: � Running of national information campaigns � Cost effective collection operations in municipalities � Regulation and control by authorities due to fragmentation ISWA / RDN / EXPRA Workshop – 9 th October 2014

Barriers � Lack of enforcement on permitted waste management facilities � Waste management facilities competing for limited material � Weak legal framework to protect legitimate operators � Cherry picking by certain operators � Pilfering (stealing) from separate collection systems operated by the scheme ISWA / RDN / EXPRA Workshop – 9 th October 2014

Pilfering from Bring In Banks of Scheme ISWA / RDN / EXPRA Workshop – 9 th October 2014

Pilfering from Municipality D 2 D Collections ISWA / RDN / EXPRA Workshop – 9 th October 2014

Effect on recovery of packaging in municipality ISWA / RDN / EXPRA Workshop – 9 th October 2014

Pilfering from Municipality Commercial Sector ISWA / RDN / EXPRA Workshop – 9 th October 2014

Pilfering from Industrial Sector ISWA / RDN / EXPRA Workshop – 9 th October 2014

Who is behind this pilferage? � The people behind this activity are: � Permitted Waste Carriers � Permitted Waste Management Facilities � Individual Citizens � The targeted materials: � Cardboard � Metals � Glass ISWA / RDN / EXPRA Workshop – 9 th October 2014

Legal Framework � Green. Pak has taken culprits to court accusing them of theft and financial damages � However the court rejected our claims: � Could not quantify exact weight stolen hence exact value could not be established � Could not demonstrate ownership of material despite contracted by municipality ISWA / RDN / EXPRA Workshop – 9 th October 2014

Mitigation by Green. Pak � When Green. Pak identifies pilfering the following action is taken: � Report issue to police � Report to Regulator � Consult with our legal team on course of action � Green. Pak is continuously pressuring Regulator to strengthen legal framework. ISWA / RDN / EXPRA Workshop – 9 th October 2014

Conclusion � Competition at all levels leads to many different players which the Regulator is unable to regulate and control � Pilferage and scavenging is a growing problem for the efficiency of the Scheme � No strong legal framework to protect legitimate operators � Action by Green. Pak is being taken to mitigate effect of this unauthorized activity ISWA / RDN / EXPRA Workshop – 9 th October 2014

Daniel Tabone BA (Hons) MSc Waste Mngt (TUo. N-UK) Senior Operations Manager Green. Pak COOP Society daniel@greenpak. com. mt ISWA / RDN / EXPRA Workshop – 9 th October 2014