All official European Union website addresses are in the europa.eu domain.
See all EU institutions and bodies
An official website of the European Union | How do you know?
Environmental information systems
EN
The indicator shows the total generated amount of all types of waste from all economic sectors and households, and compares it with economic development measured as gross domestic product (GDP).
Waste generation in Malta is driven by construction and tourism. , consisting of shares of municipal waste (15%), commercial and industrial waste (5%) and construction and demolition waste (80%). . While per capita municipal waste generation remains above the EU average, the trend .
Positive changes are driven by policies on . In 2022, Malta introduced a deposit return system for beverage containers and established differentiated gate fees for waste disposed in public waste sites. A harmonised regional waste collection schedule was introduced in 2023 to enhance waste separation; it became obligatory in April 2023.
In 2023, new infrastructure (including a multi-material recovery facility and a material recovery facility) was launched, enhancing recycling capabilities. The government’s long-term vision to reduce reliance on landfilling is a key part of the , a waste management site at which a .
References and footnotes
- ↵Eurostat, ‘Generation of waste by waste category, hazardousness and NACE Rev. 2 activity’, env_wasgen, 30 September 2024, accessed 23 June 2025, https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/env_wasgen__custom_11490008/default/table?lang=en.
- ↵NSO, Solid Waste Management: 2023, Valletta, 2025, accessed 24 June 2025, https://nso.gov.mt/environment/solid-waste-management-2023/.
- ↵NSO, Municipal Waste: 2023, Valletta, 2024, https://nso.gov.mt/environment/municipal-waste-2023/.
- a bEurostat, ‘Municipal waste by waste management operations’, env_wasmun, 13 February 2025, accessed 23 June 2025, https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/env_wasmun__custom_15352477/default/table?lang=en.
- ↵ERA and MECP, Long Term Waste Management Plan 2021–2030, Marsa, 2021, accessed 24 June 2025, https://era.org.mt/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Long-Term-Waste-Management-Plan-v1.4.3-Spreads-Digital-Version.pdf.
- ↵ERA and MECP, Construction and Demolition Waste Strategy for Malta 2021–2030, Marsa, 2021, accessed 24 June 2025, https://era.org.mt/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Construction-and-Demolition-Waste-Strategy-for-Malta-2021-2030-Managing-Construction-Demolition.pdf.
- ↵Government of Malta, Construction and Demolition Waste Framework Regulations, Subsidiary Legislation 549.161, 29 February 2024, accessed 24 June 2025, https://legislation.mt/eli/sl/549.161/eng.
- ↵MECP and ERA, Single-use Plastic Products Strategy for Malta 2021–2030: Rethink plastic, Marsa, 2021, accessed 24 June 2025, https://era.org.mt/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Single-Use-Plastics-Strategy.pdf.
- ↵Government of Malta, Extended Producer Responsibility Framework Regulations, Subsidiary Legislation 549.141, 9 April 2021, accessed 24 June 2025, https://legislation.mt/eli/sl/549.141/eng.
- ↵Government of Malta, Circular Economy Malta (Establishment) Order, Subsidiary Legislation 595.28, 24 August 2018, accessed 24 June 2025, https://legislation.mt/eli/sl/595.28/eng/pdf.
- a bSee the Ecohive website, accessed 23 June 2025, https://www.ecohive.com.mt/.