A reward programme for waste separation and reduction in Malta

Abstract

This research focuses on the possibility of introducing a reward programme to increase the separation of dry recyclable domestic waste from municipal waste. Malta, like all other EU Member States, is bound by the Waste Framework Directive to recycle 50% of its paper, metal, glass and plastic in municipal waste by 2020. A detailed assessment was made to identify potential incentives to increase waste separation for Malta so as to reach the 2020 target. Both the Maltese households and the local stake holders in the recyclable waste sector were involved in the collection of data, its assessment and its feedback on the final selection of a suitable reward programme for the Maltese islands. The research confirmed that even within a small cohesive community the differences between recycling attitudes differ considerably and that the best incentive is selected with the feedback of the community and stakeholders alike understanding what impedes communities to recycle and what incentivises them.