Most people do not seem to be using facilities to dispose of hazardous waste, despite the growing availability of these sites.
Many people still do not know that certain types of waste, such as cooking oil, expired medicines, used syringes and spent bulbs, should not be thrown away with normal domestic waste, according to a survey carried out by Wasteserv.
Also cited were the logistical problems, such as the need to go to the civic amenity sites where hazardous waste can be disposed.
The non-scientific survey, published yesterday by Wasteserv, is based on interviews with shoppers at supermarkets.
Only 11 per cent of respondents said they disposed correctly of light bulbs
But it gives an idea of the general lack of awareness of the need to throw away this type of waste correctly, due to its potential harmful effects on the environment and human health. The only type of hazardous waste that is generally properly disposed of is batteries: 74 per cent of the 1,400 people interviewed said they separated them from other garbage.
On the other hand, only 11 per cent of respondents said they disposed correctly of light bulbs, neon tubes, medicines and other hazardous materials.
Other waste classified as hazardous includes paint and related containers, electrical and electronic waste including computers, mobile phones and white goods, chemicals such as pesticides and fertilisers.
They can all be thrown away in five civic amenity sites, four in Malta and one in Gozo – built mainly through EU funds.
To make it easier for the public to dispose of waste correctly, a new site is expected to be opened soon in Ta’ Qali, not far from the vegetable market.
Though the use of civic amenity sites is on the increase, more than half the survey’s respondents said they did not make use of them.
A lot did not know about them and others said they preferred to use the bulky refuse service offered free of charge by their local council.
Other reasons were lack of transport to the sites, no interest in garbage separation and lack of time.