Malta’s rubbish recycling rate places it among EU’s worst performers

Malta remains among the European Union’s weakest performers in waste recycling, with the country ranking 24th out of 27 Member States in 2023, according to the latest available data.

The figures show that Malta is part of a group of five countries – alongside Romania, Cyprus, Bulgaria and Greece – that recycled less than 20 per cent of their municipal waste last year. At the opposite end of the spectrum, Germany recorded the highest recycling rate across the bloc, followed by countries including Austria, Slovenia and the Netherlands.

Across the EU, the average municipal waste recycling rate stood at 47.7 per cent in 2023, highlighting a stark gap between Malta and the bloc’s overall performance. Nine countries surpassed the 50 per cent mark, signalling steady progress towards EU circular economy targets.

The data shows a persistent structural challenge for Malta, where waste management continues to rely heavily on landfilling compared to higher-performing Member States that have invested more significantly in recycling infrastructure, waste separation systems, and public awareness.

Recycling remains a key pillar of the EU’s environmental and economic strategy. By keeping materials in circulation, Member States reduce dependence on imported raw materials, support industrial resilience, and create opportunities within the circular economy.

Different waste streams show varying levels of recycling success across Europe. Packaging waste recorded the highest recycling rate at 67.5 per cent, followed by municipal waste at 47.7 per cent and electronic waste at 30.8 per cent.