Volume of recycled materials drops by nearly half

There was only 6,658 tonnes of material recycled between January and November 2017, almost half the 11,538 tonnes handled in the whole of 2016. Replying to a parliamentary question by MP Marthese Portelli, Environment Minister Jose Herrera gave no reason for the drop. The totals in tonnes of recycled plastic, metal and paper for the years between 2012 and 2017 were: 2012 – 10,5002013 – 10,5912014 – 10,5092015 – 9,5472016 – 11,5382017 – 6,658* *January to November Recycling remains an unpopular habit in Malta, with only 6.7 per cent of waste being reused in 2015, despite the stress placed on better management. The government announced last year that recycling would be made compulsory under new waste separation laws currently being drafted. The Circular Economy Act will require people to separate recyclable, organic and waste streams. Read: Recycling to be made compulsory - Environment Minister