Eco-warriors across Malta and Gozo were celebrated for their environmental actions during the 9th edition of the Malta Waste Reduction Awards that took place on 3^rd June.

The awards saw 28 different local entities participate, including various schools, public entities, businesses, NGOs and citizens with the ultimate aim of inspiring more and more people to become eco-warriors and come up with actions to reduce waste and promote awareness-raising activities.

Prizes were awarded for 7 categories, with each winner taking home a €1000 prize:

Ħ’Attard Local Council took home the Waste Reduction Award for Best Practice in Public Administration Category for their various waste separation and environmental protection initiatives. From informative tree-planting sessions to the distribution of plants and even the organisation of a SwapShop for clothes, shoes and home accessories, the Council did not only educate but also encouraged residents to practice sustainability from an early age.

La Salle Athletics Club won the Waste Reduction Award for Best Practice in Associations Category; their in-house competitions with different local clubs best celebrated the theme of last year’s European Week for Waste Reduction ‘Circular Communities’. This Club collected used running shoes and clothes that are still in good condition, which were then donated to the Agency for the Welfare of Asylum Seekers. With this action, they not only reduced waste but also helped those in need.

The organisation of team-building activities aimed at reducing waste and collaboration with Birżebbuġa Primary School students to create Christmas decorations from car tyres secured Malta Freeport Terminals Ltd the Waste Reduction Award for Business Category.

St Benedict College, Middle School Ħal Kirkop won two categories, the Waste Reduction Award for Schools Category and the Waste Reduction Award for Most Innovative Category after organising various discussions on the reduction of water and electricity, organising clean-ups around the school, collecting unused clothing to make bags and picking up olives to sell to parents.

For his various sustainable efforts over the past years, Eman Azzopardi won the Waste Reduction Award for Citizens Category, an award that was sponsored by Maypole. Azzopardi collected waste from valleys and rural areas surrounding Żebbug whilst also organising valley clean-ups with his friends along with a constant message that the environment and countryside were given to us for free and “it’s our duty and obligation to pass it on to others in the best way possible.”

De la Salle College Junior School won the Waste Reduction Award for Clean-up awareness Category by organising clean ups around Birgu where students also passed on their messages to take care of the environment and generate less waste. Beyond the clean-up and sports festival, the school also kickstarted a year-round exercise where they weighed recyclable waste generated at their homes.

De La Salle College’s Mikael Delia participating in Communities for Change (left) & Ħ’Attard Local Council’s Swap Shop Initiative (Right) as part of this year’s local recycling initiatives.

There was also an award specifically for local councils for their continuous effort in their fight towards better waste management, with Qrendi Local Council winning and taking home a €5,000 grant, runners-up Dingli Local Council won a €3,000 grant and first runners-up Tarxien Local Council secured a €2,000 grant.

As we continue to venture in 2022, this year’s European Week for Waste Reduction will explore sustainable and circular textiles as the thematic focus, analysing the impact that the textile sector has on our planet in an attempt to inspire citizens as consumers to take action, promote, support and guide new solutions of production, use, disposal and reuse of textile. Follow WasteServ and European Week for Waste Reduction Malta pages on Facebook for more information. Applications for the 2022 edition open in September.

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