Starting this April, ERA (Environment & Resources Authority) will begin enforcing waste separation across Malta and Gozo. As of October, after a grace period of 6 months, they will be fining €25 to anyone who does not separate and recycle their waste correctly. A fine of €75 applies to businesses on first offence and this will go up to €125 for multiple breaches. 

ERA - Environment & Resources Authority / Facebook

Malta has three different waste collection bags - the black bag which is collected every Tuesday and Saturday, the organic bag on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and finally the recycling bag every Thursday.

This new law has caused some confusion amongst many residents as to what waste items go into which bag.

That is why we have gathered a detailed list of what rubbish items go into which bags to help you avoid any further confusion and prevent you from getting an unnecessary fine.

Kunsill Lokali - Gharb - Local Council / Facebook

Organic:

• Cheese
• Coffee
• Cooked food
• Leftovers
• Cooked or raw meat
• Dairy products
• Eggs and egg shells
• Expired food (without packaging)
• Fish
• Flowers
• Fruit and vegetable peels
• Honey
• Leaves
• Pasta
• Raw food
• Rotten fruit and vegetables
• Soiled newspapers
• Soiled napkins
• Sugar
• Tea bags
• Tea leaves
• Spreads such as butter
• Nutshells
• Sea food shells

Black bag:

• Adhesive tape
• Soiled Aluminium Foil
• Baking paper
• Broken ceramics/pyrex
• Dirty food wrappers
• Cellophane tapes
• Dirty take-away boxes
• Foil Coated packets
• Dust
• Polystyrene
• Labels
• Photographs
• Plant pots
• Used sponges
• Sanitary Items
• Shoes
• Hair and fur
• Small broken mirrors
• Stickers
• Toothpaste tubes
• Used cleaning materials
• Used rubber gloves
• Used floor cloths
• Wax paper
• Wet wipes
• Cigarette butts and ashes
• Candles
• CD’s
• Snack packets
• Toothpicks
• Ice lolly sticks and wooden skewers
• Twigs
• Sanitary Items
• Animal waste and pet litter
• Nappies

Recycling:

• Clean Aluminium trays and foil
• Beverage cans
• Cardboard
• Clean Carton food boxes
• Cooking oil bottles
• Clean cosmetic containers
• Empty detergent bottles
• Detergent boxes
• Food cans
• Jar lids
• Empty liquid soap containers
• Magazines
• Plastic bottles
• Clean Margerine Tubs
• Metal caps
• Milk and juice cartons
• Newspapers
• Notebooks
• Paper
• Clean paper bags
• Clean plastic bags
• Plastic Caps
• Plastic Containers
• Plastic food packets
• Plastic bottles
• Empty shampoo bottles
• Empty shower gel bottles
• Empty spray cans
• Clean take away boxes
• Toilet paper rolls
• Clean yoghurt containers
• Clean containers of toiletries

What do you think of the new law?