We’ve heard it all, from excuses to the most creative conspiracy theories. The facts are that when put on the EU scoreboard Malta stands at the bottom of the pile with a daunting task ahead of it to meet recycling targets that until a few months ago appeared way out of reach.

Does this impact Joe the citizen, or do we afford to keep it further on the backburner? If Joe wants an economy that continues to grow sustainably and wants to see their loved one living in a healthier environment, they need to take an active role. But how?

Firstly, they need to understand who is saying what, and what the underlying strategies are when it comes to waste management.

Unfortunately, not all of the naysayers are advocating a better performance because they genuinely believe in a better environment, while previous policies (or lack thereof) essentially gridlocked the waste management industry. 

On the other hand the current administration is taking full responsibility for the current situation – the good, the bad, and the ugly. This is not about taking blame, but about acknowledging and understanding the country’s problems to be in a position to solve them effectively and not with make-believe glossy proposals. 

In fact, this change in direction is already resulting in a decisive improvement across the board with all key performance indicators spiking positively towards a trend that is getting us closer to not only reaching binding EU targets, but to do so in a way that also allows us to grow stronger. It has become abundantly clear that we all have come to realize that for every problem there is more than one solution. 

The same applies here, and it is very good news that instead of choosing one solution over the other, government is concretely implementing a toolbox approach which include a massive revamp of waste management policies; a 500-million-euro injection in waste management infrastructure; a can-do attitude across the board; and the crucial ingredient for every success – discipline.

Secondly, Joe needs to do their part. By moving away from negativity and doom and gloom quarters, and ultimately by rolling their sleeves up and starting making day-to-day changes to reduce waste generation and excel at waste separation practices.

The success of waste management is for us to attain collectively. The administration understands what is required, it is already and will continue to implement it in a decisive way, and as the Maltese has done in the past when put to test, they will rise to the challenge and guarantee a better future and an economy based on sound environmental principles for years to come.