The Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Climate Change José Herrera has announced that his Ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry for Gozo and the Parliamentary Secretariat for Local Government, has extended the organic waste pilot project to Gozo.
The Minister explained that household organic waste will be collected on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, starting from Friday, the th of September
Next week will see the start of an intensive information campaign in homes, including door to door visits, as well as in schools starting from the next school year.
Fee home kits will be delivered to localities around the island; the kit will include a ventilated bin and an organic bag that is to be used only for the organic waste.
The objectives behind this project include reducing the size of the black bag by 50%, make better use of landfill availability, reduce bio waste landfilling, and avoiding Green House Gas emissions to then increase Renewable Energy generation from Bio Waste.
Wasteserve CEO Tonio Montebello Wasteserv said that once the organic waste collection starts in September, the monitoring exercise will start immediately and will consist of intensive monitoring of Gozitan streets, as well as the type of waste entering the facilities.
Mr Montebello said they are confident that the project will be a success and welcomes any suggestions from Gozo residents on how to improve the system.
The Minister for Gozo Dr Anton Refalo said that it is the aim of the Government is to ensure that by 2020 Gozo is an ecological island. "The vision of a green island which can look forward to a sustainable future – and thus a secure future – the island of Gozo. It is a vision rooted in the potential of the island and the capabilities of its people."
Local Government Parliamentary Secretary Stefan Buontempo was also present for the launch.
Organic waste for separation includes:
1) Food Waste – Cooked & Raw, Fish & Shellfish, Bread & Pasta, Tea bags & ground coffee.
2) Food Preparation Waste – Fruit & Vegetable peels, Egg shells,
3) Paper/Napkins/Newspapers contaminated with Food Waste
4) Leaves & Flowers
Top Photograph: MGOZ/George Scerri