S.L. 549.29 Art. 5Maximum quantities of municipal waste allowed to landfill.

(1) The competent authority shall, not later than 15 July 2003, set up a national strategy for the purpose of the reduction of biodegradable waste going to landfill. This strategy shall include measures to achieve the targets as set out in sub-regulation (2) including such measures as recycling, composting, biogas production or material and energy recovery.

(2) The strategy shall ensure that by:

(a) 15 July 2010 biodegradable waste going to landfill is reduced to 75% of the total amount by weight of biodegradable municipal waste produced in 1995;

(b) 15 July 2013 biodegradable waste going to landfill is reduced to 50% of the total amount by weight of biodegradable municipal waste produced in 1995; and

(c) 15 July 2020 biodegradable waste going to landfill is reduced to 35% of the total amount by weight of biodegradable municipal waste produced in 1995.

(3) By 2035 the amount of municipal waste landfilled is to be reduced to 10% or less of the total amount of municipal waste generated (by weight).

(4) By 2030, the Minister may consider postponing the deadline for attaining the target referred to in sub-regulation (3) by up to five (5) years provided that:

(a) Malta has landfilled more than sixty per cent (60%) of its municipal waste generated in 2013 as reported under the Joint Questionnaire of the OECD and Eurostat; and

(b) at the latest twenty-four (24) months before the deadline laid down in sub-regulation (3), the Minister notifies the Commission of its intention to postpone the deadline and submits an implementation plan in accordance with Schedule 4. The Minister may combine that plan with an implementation plan submitted pursuant to the Waste Regulations.

(5) Within three (3) months of receipt of the implementation plan submitted pursuant to paragraph (b) of sub-regulation (4), the Commission may request Malta to revise the plan if the Commission considers that the plan does not comply with the requirements of Schedule 4. Malta shall submit a revised plan within three (3) months of receipt of the Commission’s request.

(6) In the event of postponing the deadline in accordance with sub-regulation (4), the Minister, in consultation with the authority and the agency, shall take the necessary measures to reduce by 2035 the amount of municipal waste landfilled to twenty-five per cent (25%) or less of the total amount of municipal waste generated (by weight).