News | Sunday, 19 July 2009

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Glass bottles, sorely missed in Attard and Marsaskala

James Debono
Plastic might be more convenient to carry than glass, but the majority of Attard’s and Marsaskala’s residents disagree with Malta’s new plastic bottling system.
Sociology graduate Diana Aquilina’s B.A. dissertation on the ecological impact of the introduction of plastic bottles, which replaced the returnable glass bottle system, found up to 84% of respondents in disagreement with the EU policy to force Malta to open the market to plastic bottles.
The study found 82.7% of Marsaskala respondents and 84% of Attard respondents against the system.
But although acknowledging the negative impact of plastic bottles on the environment and society, the respondents said they were not ready to contribute financially to improve waste management and reduce plastic.
The localities were chosen as the two case studies since Marsaskala receives the recycled waste at the Sant’ Antnin Recycling Plant; Attard is the locality which recycles the most waste in Malta.
Despite this difference in their experience of waste management, and also in the traditional political shades of these two villages, the residents say plastic waste is an environmental hazard that requires effective social policy.
All age groups from both localities were against the new plastic bottling system, which replaced the returnable glass bottle system. Older respondents above 50 were less favourable than younger respondents.
The study also showed that the residents were participating in waste seperation schemes. Over 70% dispose of plastic waste at a bring-in site or on ‘Recycle Tuesdays’ collection.
But despite their high environmental awareness, 62.7% of Attard residents and 68% of Marsaskala residents are not willing to pay for improved waste strategies.
One of the reasons is offered by sociologist Michael Briguglio, who is quoted as saying that “thousands of Maltese workers and families are not coping with the cost of living and many of them are facing high costs on other items such as housing and energy.”
The study also shows that the majority of residents were not informed about the difference between biodegradable and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic. Although residents from both localities say there should be less PVC plastic, around 53% did not the difference between these plastics.
Marsaskala residents (30.1%) were less knowledgeable about biodegradable materials when compared to Attard respondents (22.4%). And 98.7% of Attard respondents said they should assist the local council to manage waste better, and 81.3% of Marsaskala residents were of the same opinion.
Waste reduction was perceived as the most effective waste strategy in both localities, while incineration and landfills were the least popular methods.

jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt

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