As our next contribution for ‘Waste Week’, WasteServ speak about the ‘European Week for Waste Reduction’, a week in November dedicated to actions that raise awareness about waste prevention and reduction. The theme for this year is ‘Circular Communities’, and it will be held between the 20th and 28th of November. In line with this, WasteServ organises the ‘Malta Waste Reduction Awards’, where the best actions that took place in Malta will be awarded. Each project will then receive funding to help in their efforts at reducing waste. Registrations for this year’s European Week for Waste Reduction will open in September 2021. Find out more below!
A school fighting food waste through data analysis followed by concrete actions; a Girl Guides association that turned car tyres into pet beds for dogs and cats; and a rabbit club that built a machine from recycled materials to turn manure into compost which is then used to grow herbs- these are just some of the winners of the 2019 ‘Malta Waste Reduction Awards’ that are organised by WasteServ every year.
These awards stem from the European Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR), a week in November dedicated to actions that raise awareness about waste prevention and reduction. This annual event brings together schools, public administrations, companies, NGOs and citizens from across 33 European countries all united by the same goal: promoting awareness-raising activities on sustainable resource and waste management. This campaign has been running for the past 12 years and WasteServ is the designated coordinator for Malta.
Taking place during the last week of November, each year focuses on a different theme that aims to inform the public about various aspects of waste management. Last year, it was all about ‘Invisible Waste’, i.e. waste that is generated during the manufacturing process of products, which as consumers, we are rarely aware of when buying products. More than 10,600 actions were registered across all participating countries.
This year’s theme is ‘Circular Communities’. The idea is to encourage communities to work together to come up with tangible actions to prevent waste. This year’s European Week for Waste Reduction will be held between the 20th and 28th of November, and participants will have the opportunity to carry out their actions in collaboration with civil society, NGOs, businesses and other entities of their choice. Working towards the same goal inspires teamwork and change with a strong sense of purpose. Those that take part in the European Week for Waste Reduction will then have the opportunity to participate in the Malta Waste Reduction Awards, where the best actions that took place in Malta will be awarded.
This year will mark the 8th ceremony, and WasteServ will be awarding those actions that best represented the theme of ‘Invisible Waste’. Each project will then receive funding to help in their efforts at reducing waste. The winners are selected by a jury of experts following their registration to the European Week for Waste Reduction. These awards aim to inspire more people to become stewards of the environment in our fight to reduce waste.
We invite you to follow our next award ceremony which will take place on the 25th of August 2021 but more importantly, we encourage you to be part of this year’s European Week for Waste Reduction. Registrations will open in September 2021, and more information can be found on wsm.com.mt!
Contributor(s)
WasteServ Malta
Since its creation in November 2002, WasteServ has been responsible for organising, managing and operating integrated systems for waste management. Being at the forefront of a transformative change towards a circular economy approach is core to our strategy. This means continually developing and improving our waste management infrastructure to maximise resource value while protecting the environment and society. Currently, WasteServ operates several facilities that process and treat different waste streams. Through these facilities, WasteServ provides the required infrastructure for both households and businesses to dispose of their waste in a safe and sustainable way. Furthermore, WasteServ operates six Civic Amenity Sites in different localities around Malta and Gozo which offer recycling and waste disposal services to residents.
