Malta continues to make strong progress in waste management, building on the positive momentum achieved in recent years. Thanks to the consistent commitment shown by both the public and the commercial sector, Malta’s Long-Term Waste Management Plan is delivering clear and very encouraging results.
This was announced by the Minister for the Environment, Energy and Public Cleanliness Miriam Dalli, during a press conference held at the ECOHIVE Complex in Naxxar, together with WasteServ CEO Richard Bilocca.
The public has consistently demonstrated its commitment to waste separation, contributing to a reduction of over 30% in mixed waste. Mixed waste now stands at 95.5 million kilogrammes, down from approximately 141 million kilogrammes.
At the same time, recyclable waste, including waste collected through the grey and green bags as well as glass, has shown sustained positive results, even when taking into account the impact of private schemes such as the introduction of the Beverage Container Refund Scheme (BCRS), which are also registering very good results.
Organic waste separation has also continued to rise year on year, reaching a record 30 million kilogrammes in 2025. These results reflect growing awareness and active participation by the public across Malta and Gozo.
Significant progress has also been achieved within the commercial sector, which has further strengthened its waste separation efforts, particularly following the introduction of differentiated gate fees.
Organic waste collected from the commercial sector rose sharply from just 263,900 kilogrammes in 2022 to approximately 6.5 million kilogrammes last year. Recyclable waste, including glass, also registered strong progress, growing from just over 1 million kilogrammes in 2022 to nearly 4 million kilogrammes in 2025. Meanwhile, mixed waste from the commercial sector registered a modest but positive decrease of 1.1% between 2024 and 2025, now standing at approximately 44 million kilogrammes. This downward trend is expected to continue as differentiated gate fees further incentivise more sustainable waste management practices.
“These results show that the investments being made by this Government in the waste management sector are delivering real and measurable outcomes. The commitment shown by our communities and the commercial sector is driving this change, and it is clear that our Long-Term Waste Management Plan is working. Thanks to improved waste separation by both the public and businesses, we have diverted roughly 412 million kilogrammes of waste away from landfill over the past five years through increased organic and packaging waste separation,” said Minister Dalli.
WasteServ CEO Richard Bilocca said: “Over recent years, WasteServ has made significant investments in its workforce and in modern, efficient waste management infrastructure. The results we are seeing today reflect not only these investments, but also the growing cooperation of households and businesses. By working together, we are making significant progress in reducing waste and moving Malta closer to a circular economy.”
The waste being processed is transformed into valuable resources. In 2025, all organic waste collected from households and businesses was converted into 8.5 GWh of electricity, enough to power around 1,200 households for an entire year, as well as into high-quality compost that supports Malta’s agricultural sector. Total recyclable outputs are also at a record high, reaching over 23.5 million kilogrammes of recyclable materials, including gypsum, flat glass, and wood, among others.
