Imagine this: You’re a diligent Maltese resident, sorting your waste meticulously into the correct recycling bins. You feel a sense of pride, knowing you’re doing your part for the environment. But here’s the kicker – your ‘recyclables’ might not be recycled at all. Welcome to Malta’s recycling conundrum.

Malta boasts impressive recycling rates – around 70%, according to the National Statistics Office. However, dig a little deeper, and the picture becomes murkier. The European Environment Agency reports that only 16% of Malta’s waste is actually recycled, with the rest ending up in incinerators or landfills. So, what’s happening to our ‘recyclables’?

Malta’s recycling system is a complex web of private contractors and public entities. The collected recyclables are supposed to be sent to facilities in Italy and Germany for processing. But according to a 2021 audit report by the Auditor General, much of this waste ends up in landfills or incinerators, with some even being exported illegally.

Take the case of the Magħtab incinerator. Despite being intended for non-recyclable waste, it’s been found to receive recyclable materials. In 2020, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) discovered that recyclables were being mixed with other waste at the site, rendering them unsellable and destined for incineration.

Greenbugs Malta, a local environmental NGO, has been vocal about Malta’s recycling issues. “It’s like we’re being greenwashed,” says co-founder Dr. Marthese Portelli. “We’re led to believe we’re doing the right thing, but our recyclables aren’t actually being recycled.”

Dr. Portelli points to the lack of transparency and accountability in the waste management sector. “We need better monitoring and enforcement. We need to know where our waste is going and what’s happening to it.”

Malta’s recycling system needs an overhaul. This means stricter enforcement, better monitoring, and increased transparency. It means investing in local recycling facilities, creating jobs and reducing our reliance on foreign processors. It means educating the public about what can and can’t be recycled.

But there’s hope. The government has committed to phasing out incineration and investing in recycling. The European Green Deal provides funding opportunities for sustainable waste management. And local NGOs are pushing for change.

So, what can you do? Keep recycling, but also demand transparency and accountability. Ask your local council what happens to your recyclables. Support local NGOs pushing for waste management reform. Let’s turn Malta’s recycling rates from a tale of two numbers into a story of genuine environmental progress.