The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA), in consultation with the Malta Maritime Authority (MMA), has drawn the attention of Terminal Operators, Ship Agents, Port Masters, Ship owners and waste carriers regarding certain practices concerning the management, collection and disposal of waste generated by ships calling in Maltese ports.

In particular the Authority would like to draw attention to the following provisions:

1. All waste discharged by ships should be handed over to authorized "waste carriers" who possess valid permits issued by MEPA in terms of Legal Notice 106 of 2007 concerning Waste Management (Activity Registration) Regulations. Waste carriers who do not hold such a permit shall not be allowed to collect waste from ships after 31st August 2008;

Terminal operators should after 31st August 2008 only give access to their respective terminals to waste carriers holding a valid permit. Their Waste Management Plan prepared in terms of the Port Reception Facilities for Ship-generated Wastes and Cargo Residues Regulations (L.N. 278 of 2004) has to be amended accordingly and referred for the Authority's approval;

It is prohibited to mix source separated waste such as the waste that is normally separated on board ships as per shipboard garbage management plan;

Waste carriers shall not carry two types of source separated waste in a vehicle that is not suitably licensed for the simultaneous carriage of more than one fraction of source separated waste (e.g. paper, glass, metals, etc);

Source separated waste should only be delivered to the authorized material recovery facilities as per instructions given by WasteServ Malta Ltd;

Waste carriers are to ensure that only general mixed waste should be directed to disposal sites designated for such purposes, as the Ghallis Landfill;

All waste carriers should have available for inspection a copy of the original order made by the Master or Ship Agent and a copy of the receipt or certificate handed to Master specifying the estimated amount of garbage collected.

Wastes classified as Hazardous wastes (e.g. waste oils, batteries, etc) should be accompanied by Consignment Permits and Consignment Notes issued by MEPA.

A copy of the waste consignment notes or receipts, clearly showing the amounts of the different types of wastes which were received from the ships, has to be handed over to the Terminal Operator before leaving the Terminal; and

The Terminal Operators have to maintain a record of the waste consignment notes or receipts of waste for eventual verification with WasteServe Malta Ltd. This procedure should also be included in its amended Waste Management Plan.

The Authority wishes to remind Terminal Operators, Ship Agents, Masters, Ship owners and waste carriers regarding their responsibility for observance to legislation and directions given by the relevant competent authority and that non-compliance may be deemed an offence subject to the provisions under the Laws of Malta.