Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/212250
11 News maltatoday, SUNDAY, 17 NOVEMBER 2013 Kevin Gatt - by putting all kinds of waste in a mixed bag we would occupy more space in a landfill. It is only be minimising the amount of waste that we can minimise the need for facilities. In this way we also minimise the impact on resources like energy and land use." their day-to-day activities in order to pass simple messages." Gatt gives a couple of examples of these simple messages. "If a plastic cup if washed, something which takes just 30 seconds, it can go in a grey bag to be recycled instead of finishing up in a landfill." "We need to build on our knowledge to push forward and evangelise the message that the success of waste management does not depend on facilities, but is dependent on everyone's behaviour." Gatt says this learning experience will be the way through which families can involve their children in a display of generational solidarity. "If we set an example of altruism in something as simple as waste management, this will permeate in other aspects of life." He also points out that waste separation comes at no extra expense, but simply requires commitment. "But for people to make this commitment they have to understand why they are making this commitment… while in the past most awareness took place in schools, it is vital that waste management advocates also reach adults. We need to convince them that time is worth investing in separation. What people need to become aware of is that ultimately there is a price for not recycling or preventing waste, as this will result in end-of-pipe solutions." In short, the less waste produced, the greater the amount separated and recycled, and the less land needed for landfills or larger waste treatment facilities. "Yes. In a small country like Malta such facilities are always a short stroll away from where each one of us lives and the impact is close to everyone. Moreover a low rate of waste separation is costly for the country. It results in a greater dependency on the use of facilities to manage that waste. If we recycle more waste we would be ensuring that less waste goes to the landfill. If we recover energy from that waste we would be breaking down even further. "Basically by putting all kinds of waste in a mixed bag we would occupy more space in a landfill. It is only be minimising the amount of waste that we can minimise the need for facilities. In this way we also minimise the impact on resources like energy and land use." Controversy ahoy One of the new plan's more controversial aspects is the suggestion of expanding the Sant Antnin Waste Recycling Plant from the current capacity of 71,000 tonnes to 100,000 tonnes. Gatt says the plan is not envisioning the expansion of the facility itself but only stating that in the absence of adequate separation of organic waste, the amount of waste in the black bags allowed into the facility needs to increase in order to meet the design capacity of the current digester. Today the facility is permitted to handle 71,000 tonnes: 36,000 tonnes of which are composed of dry recyclables while 35,000 tonnes is municipal solid waste. But what is happening today is that only 50% of the waste coming from black bags is composed of organic waste. Therefore, out of the allowed 35,000 tonnes throughput, which is coming via black bags, only half of it is composed of organic waste which can be directed to digestion – a process through which micro-organisms break down biodegradable material in the absence of oxygen. The digestor's actual capacity for treating organic waste is 35,000 tonnes, which means it is not even operating to its full capacity. So if the amount of separated organic waste increases to direct 35,000 tonnes of it to Sant Antnin, there would not even be the need to increase throughput to the plant, as there would be enough organic waste to operate the digestor at its current capacity. "Through the introduction of the organic separation of waste we can possibly direct 35,000 tonnes of pure organic waste directly to Sant Antnin. Therefore we would not need to increase the capacity of the digester. Our aim is to ensure that the digester operates at its full capacity." This is a clear case showing how How waste separation and collection is set to change by 2015 2014 1. The collection of black bags containing mixed waste will be reduced to 3 times a week. 2. Collection of dry recyclables (ex glass) to be increased to 2 or 3 times weekly 2015 1. Collection of black bags containing mixed waste will be reduced to once a week 2. Introduce collection of bio waste (ex food waste) 3 times a week 3. Twice weekly collection for dry recyclables. 4. New colour coded garbage bags for dry recyclables, bio-waste and mixed waste 5. Vehicles collecting waste not to exceed a 4 tonne capacity 6. Waste collection to be regionalised 7. Late evening collection in traffic hot spots societal behaviour – separating organic from other waste – can contribute to not having an increased throughput of waste at Sant Antnin. So while not cast in stone, increasing throughput is a temporary measure until 35,000 tonnes of organic waste may be secured through the threetier separation process proposed. Gatt makes it clear that the government has already excluded any tax or tariff to finance waste management. But he cautions that the best way to avoid such taxes in future is only by reducing the waste that had to be managed: and that means, reducing waste at source, increased separation and recycling to secure the most efficient cost possible to run the plant. "Ultimately, even if one day a charge had to be applicable, by making operations even more efficient through waste minimisation and more recycling, the cost of operations will be less and the burden on society will be less." Less junk mail, new collection hours While people can control food waste by changing their shopping behaviour, they certainly won't control the vast quantity of unsolicited mail they receive in their own letterbox and which usually ends up in the bin. Gatt says technology has provided alternatives to do away with this kind of waste. "For a considerable number of people it is much more convenient to receive a soft copy of a catalogue that can be deleted." The plan is to bring together all mail distributors to ensure 'junk mail' is addressed only to people who really want it, and to allow others to opt out from receiving it in hard copy. "This will result in a reduction in the amount of paper sometimes still found in its plastic cover which is finding itself in our waste management system." Another proposed change is to avoid tailbacks of traffic in the morning hours, by organising latenight collections. People who work in the morning and afternoons will also be able to take out their rubbish after returning home from work. Presently most waste from households is collected in the morning, something that the waste management plan says has created increased congestion and traffic. "What happens in the villages is different from what happens in the traffic hot spots," Gatt points out, but it is here that night-time collection makes more sense. "It will result in a reduction of emissions, not just by the refuse collection vans but also by avoiding the tailback it creates during traffic rush hours." Changes to the waste management plan will see the Local Councils Association and the department for local government team up to discuss a more regional system for waste collection. "We want to discuss regionalisation to create economies of scale that allow waste collectors to become even more professional and invest in vehicles that are more attuned to modern technology," Gatt says. "It's a win-win: we get a more a professional service, and collectors can get larger contracts." jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt