Investigating the agricultural use and disposal of plastics in Malta

Abstract

The use of plastics in agriculture has become so omnipresent that it has acquired its own lexicon, and it is now known as “plasticulture”. However, since compared to other industries, plastic consumption in agriculture is low, little attention has been paid to this material and its eventual disposal. This disregard is evident within both local and international statistics and policies, despite the close connection its disposal bears to soil health, making correct disposal a prerequisite for improving the health and sustainability of food production processes. Using Malta as a case study, this research utilizes quantitative and qualitative tools to identify and quantify the most common types of agricultural plastic waste generated and to determine the attitudes of farmers towards the establishment of a collection and recycling scheme. While the results indicate that for 38% of respondents, the incineration and plowing of plastic waste are regular practices, they also ascertain the willingness of farmers to acquire additional knowledge about more appropriate methods to dispose of this waste stream, thus guiding policy makers towards the need to initiate educational measures for farmers to prevent these harmful practices. The stakeholder interviews highlight that the present lack of data is a major obstacle, preventing policy from taking this waste stream into account.