Malta Exports 116 Tonnes of Waste Batteries for Recycling

Imagine a mountain of waste batteries, towering like a modern-day Sliema skyline. That’s what you’d see if you could stack the 116 tonnes of batteries that Maltese cooperative, Green MT, recently exported for recycling. But this isn’t a scene of environmental despair; it’s a testament to Malta’s commitment to going green.

Green MT, based in the industrial estate of Hal Far, has been at the forefront of Malta’s waste management scene since 2004. They’ve turned the island’s waste into a resource, creating jobs and exporting value. This latest export, bound for Belgium, is a significant milestone in their mission to keep Malta clean and green.

“We’re not just moving waste,” says Green MT’s CEO, Ing. Jonathan Dalli. “We’re moving a resource. Batteries contain valuable materials like lithium and cobalt. Recycling them means we’re not only protecting our environment but also creating a new industry.”

Malta’s battery recycling journey began in 2017 when Green MT set up a state-of-the-art recycling plant in Hal Far. Today, it’s one of the most advanced in the Mediterranean. The plant sorts, dismantles, and recovers materials from batteries, ready for reuse in new products.

But Green MT’s ambition doesn’t stop at recycling. They’re also driving innovation. “We’re working on new technologies to improve our recycling rates and recover even more materials,” says Dalli. “We want to make Malta a hub for battery recycling in the Mediterranean.”

And they’re not alone. The Maltese government has set ambitious targets for waste management, including a 70% recycling rate by 2030. Initiatives like the Battery Collection Scheme, which encourages businesses and households to recycle their batteries, are helping Malta move towards this goal.

As the sun sets on another day in Hal Far, the mountain of waste batteries is gone, replaced by a vision of a greener Malta. A Malta where waste is a resource, not a problem. A Malta where innovation drives environmental protection.

“We’re not just recycling batteries,” says Dalli. “We’re creating a future where our children can enjoy a clean, green Malta.”