Amsterdam bans creation of new hotels
Another piece in the overall strategy to reduce tourist flows to the city
The SUP strategy and the Waste Management Plan (2021-2030) aim to transform the Maltese economy from a linear to a circular one
Malta is among the first countries to have introduced ambitious legislation for reducing the environmental damage caused by disposable plastic products. The first phase of the Single-Use Plastics Strategy for Malta (2021-2030), having commenced in January 2021, saw a ban on the importation and production of a range of single-use plastic (SUP) items, such as plastic plates, cutlery, straws, drinks mixers, drink vessels and food containers for immediate consumption.
Now, as Environment Minister Aaron Farrugia announced yesterday, the government will proceed with the second phase of the strategy which envisages a prohibition on the sale and distribution of these items from January 2022.
The strategy is based on the EU Commission’s Directive from 2019, which calls for enacting a number of effective measures to reduce the environmental impact of certain SUP products and other plastic items on the environment, Farrugia recalled.
The long-term plastic management plan has been launched for public consultation, and it also includes local research of identifying Malta’s specific plastic problem, he added. The Minister pointed out, as quoted by TVM, that the industry is already using alternatives which will enable the community to take care of its environmental surroundings while remaining competitive at an economic level.
Minister Farrugia also spoke of Malta’s long-term Waste Management Plan (2021-2030), viewing it, on a par with the SUP strategy, as vital for the transformation of the Maltese economy from a linear to a circular one. He explained that the plan, based on the concept of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, will be put into practice through 130 measures that will be implemented by 2030. This plan together with the ECOHIVE complex will help the Maltese drastically reduce the amount of landfilling, achieve a much higher level of recycling while drastically reducing the waste we produce, Farrugia said.
As part of this plan, further actions will be implemented to increase the separation of waste which will become mandatory, said the Director of the Directorate for the Environment and Climate Change, Ruth Debrincat. She explained that a national reform will take place on waste collection, with the introduction of a uniform garbage truck for all localities.
To decrease refuse from dumps, enabling the recycling of waste for conversion to resource, four new plants will be built in the ECOHIVE complex with an investment of EUR 5 million, the Director added.
Silesian is spoken by about half a million people in the south of the country
Legislators and magnates have to await a preliminary ruling from the European Court of Justice
The building will then serve as the site for a new museum dedicated to Finnish-Russian relations
The tool helps identify undeclared swimming pools and garden sheds
It will serve as a virtual companion to the municipal network of libraries in the country
In addition, the federal government has launched the National Week of Action against Bicycle Theft to raise awareness of the issue and the new solution
The tests are also experimenting with a charging point that is easier to maintain
Reportedly, the aim of the local government is to curb violence and disorder among the youth
The city thinks that it’s time to update pet-related street cleanliness rules for the 21st century
For the English-speakers that would be Saint Domnius, the patron saint of the Dalmatian capital
The famed torch will pass through more than 400 cities and towns in both Metropolitan and Overseas France
Yes, you guessed it right, that also includes baguettes and cheeses
Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment.
Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements.
Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces
Catch up with some recommendations for the 2024 European Capital of Culture programme from the mayor of Tartu
An interview with the ICLEI regional director for Europe аfter the close of COP28
An interview with a member of the No Hate Speech Network team