It gives me great pleasure to launch this first revised edition of the Solid Waste Management Strategy for the Maltese Islands.  Over the past eight years we have witnessed a vast number of developments that have raised the profile of waste management in Malta to a level that had not been witnessed ever before. 
We could no longer afford a piecemeal approach towards waste management.  Hence, the leap in quality and the stronger measures that we have introduced.  Malta’s membership of the European Union has brought with it binding commitments in this area.  We are on the right track and the benefits of EU membership are being translated both through the operational improvements registered as well as through the financial assistance that has been forthcoming. 

It needs to be emphasised that this document does not intend to radically change the original strategy – on the contrary it is to be seen as complementary to the 2001 Strategy which remains the foundation of the vision that we enshrine for this sector.  Hard decisions over the past years have meant that we can now look ahead and plan the next important steps.  The challenge is far from over and a great deal of work lies ahead.  Our long term aim is to have a zero waste scenario, in which all waste is changed into a resource.  This can be achieved by either re-using the material or else using the same material as a source of energy generation. 

In fact, this Strategy puts strong emphasis on the issue of energy generation from waste.  The previous strategy focused more on the planning and completion of the basic waste management facilities needed for the storage and treatment of waste.  Now that we have made significant improvement in these areas, we can forge ahead with our ambitious plans to maximise waste as a resource.

The setting up of WasteServ Malta Limited has proved to be a success in that we now have an entity that focuses upon the provision of waste management services and facilities without impinging on the potential development that may occur within the private sector.  On the contrary, WasteServ is intended to act as a catalyst for such operators and will only act as the ‘operator of last resort’.  WasteServ has, since its inception, contributed to provide new construction and demolition landfills operating at zero cost to Government, ensured the closure of our dump sites at Maghtab and Qortin, provided for an engineered landfill at Ta’ Zwejra whilst also moved forward with the development of the state of the art facility at Sant’ Antnin.

This plant is aimed at providing a facility that will contribute towards improved waste management practices whilst at the same time introducing for the first time the concept of recovering energy from waste.  Through WasteServ we have also embarked upon a process that will see a culture change within Maltese society to ensure that we separate our waste in a manner which ensures that our obligations in terms of the recycling targets set by the European Union are met. 

It is not our intention to ‘go it alone’ and through the various initiatives that are put forward it is our intention to provide ample space for the private sector to participate, as well as to shoulder its responsibilities, and to encourage further the workings of Local Councils and to promote their operation within defined regions that ensure greater economies of scale. 

This Waste Strategy is also intended to create a synergy with Government’s efforts in other areas, namely renewable energy and climate change.  It is of greater importance that this Waste Strategy is being launched shortly after the presentation of the Climate Change Strategy.  This Climate Change Strategy touches upon waste management, amongst other areas, because if untreated, waste contributes towards climate change too. 

Whilst thanking the Waste Strategy Team that was appointed to undertake this task, in particular the Chairman who was involved in the constant updating of this final document, I also take the opportunity to invite all those interested parties to put forward their comments that would permit the Strategy to be refined even further.

Our past achievements in this sector fill me with confidence that we will manage to implement a challenging strategy such as this.   This confidence is also strengthened by the fact that the people have so far reacted well and responded positively to the changes that were introduced in this sector.  I augur that a serious discussion will ensue and which will be built upon political maturity.  I trust that the discussion will revolve on the long-term gains that we stand to achieve from this Strategy.  We should be bold enough to look beyond the short-term advantages that some arguments might bring.

The people, and the country, simply do not afford to re-live the controversies which accompanied the implementation of certain aspects of the previous strategy.  May I point out that the 2001 strategy was the result of a thorough public consultation process which ultimately garnered everyone’s support.  That notwithstanding, the implementation was far from plain sailing and precious time and effort were lost in the process.

I trust that everyone, not least Government, banks on past experiences when analysing and discussing this document.  I am sure that further improvements in waste management will benefit the people, the environment, our country and most importantly, our future generations.

George Pullicino
Minister for Resources & Rural Affairs