Between 2004 and 2010 waste disposal accounted for 93.8 per cent of the total waste managed in Malta, while recovered and incinerated waste accounted for 6.1 per cent and 0.1 per cent respectively.

Throughout the period under review, disposal in landfills accounted for 88.5 per cent of the non-mineral waste managed in Malta. The total amount of waste disposed in landfills fluctuated over the years; however an average annual decrease of 3.7 per cent can be observed over this time span. The largest amount of landfilled waste was recorded in 2008, coinciding with the smallest amount managed at the Sant’Antnin solid waste treatment plant on account of refurbishment works undertaken at the latter establishment. From 2009 onwards, the amount of landfilled waste started to decline, with the most notable decrease – 17.9 per cent – observed in 2010. This was due to greater waste intakes at the Sant’Antnin plant and the start of a process in 2010 whereby waste started being diverted from landfilling to recovery.

Non-hazardous mineral waste is mainly treated in quarry sites. From 2004 to 2010, 89.5 per cent of all non-hazardous mineral waste managed in Malta was treated in quarry sites. During this period, 93.9 per cent of all non-hazardous mineral waste was disposed of in quarry sites, while the remainder was recycled. The drop recorded in the disposal of waste at sea mirrors the decline in large-scale excavations for major projects.

With regard to non-mineral waste, from 2004 to 2010 recovered waste accounted for 10.5 per cent, with the largest amount recorded in 2010. During the latter year, almost 50,000 tonnes were treated at the Sant’Antnin plant and the Ghallis landfill separation area. Before 2010, all non-mineral waste recovery took place at the Sant’Antnin plant; the dip in treated amounts registered in 2007 and 2008 was due to plant refurbishment. In 2010, treated non-mineral waste increased considerably, attributable to the opening of the mechanical treatment plant at Sant’Antnin. This equipment separates mixed municipal waste into recyclable and compostable fractions.

Incineration of waste in Malta has been conducted since 2008. The Marsa thermal treatment plant caters mostly for animal tissue waste originating from the slaughter of animals for consumption. In 2010, 81.4 per cent of all waste treated at the Marsa plant originated from such sources. This plant also incinerates certain hazardous waste types, amounting to 364 tonnes in 2010.

The biggest amounts of waste collected from bring-in sites, civic amenity sites and the grey-bag collection scheme were recorded in 2010. Of these three, the most notable annual increase – 44.4 per cent – was recorded for the grey-bag collection scheme.

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