The management of waste from consumer goods : a review of EU legislation and the current status of implementation in Malta

Abstract

The aim of this research is to explore the current status of the implementation of EU Waste Legislation related to waste generated from consumer goods in Malta. This research has been carried out by means of a thorough literature review, by interviews conducted with two important figures in the local waste management scenario and through the analysis of a survey personally carried out, that reveals the existing attitudes towards waste management of the Maltese Population. The dissertation's main sections are divided into four Chapters. The first Chapter gives a historical overview of the past waste management situation in Malta while Chapter two gives a description of the EU waste legislation in relation to waste generated from consumer goods which can be categorised with household waste and municipal waste. Chapter three deals with the current situation and, by the outcome of the interviews, reveals what is being done locally in order to meet EU levels in waste management. The fourth and final Chapter illustrates the analysis of the survey and draws conclusions from the results. It is hoped that the conclusions arrived at would contribute towards a future development of a waste management strategy.