Malta reported the lowest recycling rate for plastic packaging across the EU in 2021, according to a recent Eurostat report.
That year, the country recycled just 21 per cent of its plastic packaging, the lowest rate seen across the continent.
France and Sweden joined Malta at the bottom of the list, recycling only 23 per cent and 24 per cent respectively.
Meanwhile, Slovenia was the most efficient recycler, successfully managing to process 50 per cent of its plastic packaging.
Belgium and the Netherlands followed in second and third places respectively, both with rates of 49 per cent.
In general, EU countries recycled two-fifths of their waste in 2021, with the average rate across the union standing at 40 per cent.
Despite being at the bottom of the list, that year saw Malta double its recycling rate from the year before.
In 2020, Malta recycled just one-tenth of its plastic packaging, a drop from the 15 per cent seen in the previous year.
However, the drop across those two years was not confined to Malta, with most countries for which there was data available showing a decrease in recycling from 2019 to 2020.
That year saw Malta double its recycling rate from year before
The biggest such decline was seen in Czechia, which saw its recycling rate fall by a third.
The report said the fall in recycling rates was due to the EU bringing in “stricter rules” for member states to report their recycling.
According to Eurostat, the average EU inhabitant generated 36kg of plastic packaging waste in 2021, of which only 14kg was recycled.
Aside from the drop in recycling rates seen in 2020, the report shows a year-on-year increase in both the amount of plastic waste generated and the amount recycled from 2011 through to 2021.
In November, Malta introduced the BCRS scheme as part of a drive to increase recycling. Plastic bottles as well as cans and glass bottles can be deposited in machines dotted around the country.
In August, the company behind the scheme said it had recycled close to 150 million beverage containers in the first nine months of operation.
Meanwhile, in January, the country changed from a local council-led household waste collection schedule to a national one. The new schedule saw collection of recyclable household waste – which includes certain types of plastic – change from twice a week to once a week.