Public Consultation: Single-Use Plastic Products Strategy for Malta 2020-2030

OPEN CONSULTATION

From:	Ministry for the Environment, Sustainable Development and Climate Change (Environment and Resources Authority)
Published:	10 May 2019
Running till:	21 June 2019
Last Updated:	10 May 2019

1. Background

Following the extensive work being carried out by the European Commission on moving towards a Circular Economy, the Single-use Plastic Products Strategy for Malta will be a means which will further help the transition for Malta to move towards a more circular economy and hence closing the loop of products’ lifecycles.

This strategy will help protect our environment and human health from plastic pollution while reducing litter and consumption of single-use plastic products, and increasing the quality and quantities of single use plastic waste collected and recycled. This strategy is a framework acting as a driver that is also intentioned to bring about a cultural and behavioural shift within society in terms of its attitude toward single-use plastic products. The measures highlighted in the strategy should not just be introduced as legislation but should be followed up by further discussions with the various stakeholders, and accompanied by educational and awareness-raising campaigns, in order to ensure that a positive change is brought about. This will ensure that a cultural shift takes place and that the public are aware of the potential benefits that moving away from single-use plastics can have on their everyday life. Providing only a change in legislation does not ensure compliance and will not bring about the essential behavioural change to yield positive results.

The Single-use Plastic Products Strategy for Malta should be viewed as an opportunity which will set the path towards a plastic-free environment. It is to be updated, through periodical review, to ensure that any changes in society’s attitude and items containing single use plastic are addressed.

Materials made of, or containing plastics are present in many aspects of our daily activities and they constitute an important element of our economy. On the other hand, the biggest challenge faced is that they have low rates of reuse, recovery and recycling when compared with other recyclables (i.e. paper, metals and glass). The majority of plastic waste streams result in being disposed of in a landfill or incinerated, and littered, hence ending up in the sea due to an incorrect disposal method and lack of collection. The aim of the strategy is to provide measures to:

Reduce consumption of single‑use plastic (SUP) products;
Increase the quality and quantities of Single‑Use Plastic waste collected for recycling; and
Protect the environment and human health from plastic pollution.

2. Documents

Single-Use Plastic Products Strategy for Malta 2020-2030 – Rethink Plastic

Report on comments submitted during Intent and Objectives stage

Help viewing documents

3. Submission of input

The public is invited to submit any feedback or comments on this Strategy on the email address: era.policyconsultation@era.org.mt

Submissions must be received by 21 June 2019.

We thank you in advance for your input.

Please be informed that submissions will be published on the webpage of this consultation at the end of the scoping phase. The lead Ministry has sole discretion upon the publication of comments.

Received contributions, together with the identity of the contributor, will be published on the Internet, unless the contributor objects to the publication of his/her personal data on the grounds that such publication would harm his/her legitimate interests. In this case the contribution may be published in anonymous form. Otherwise the contribution will not be published nor will, in principle, its content be taken into account. Any objections concerning the publication of personal data should be sent to the service responsible for the consultation on the following email address: onlineconsultations@gov.mt.

Comments cannot exceed 10,000 characters. If you think your submission will exceed this limit please make use of the email address published on this consultation page.

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In addition, please be aware of:

· Disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (Chapter 496)

As we are a public authority all documents we hold, including documents related to this public consultation process, may be released following a request to us under the Freedom of Information Act (Chap. 496), unless such request may be subject of an exemption arising from the same Act.

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