The Environment and Resources Authority of Malte was established in 2016, and focuses specifically on environmental matters and legislation, to safeguard the environment and achieve a sustainable quality of life. The main goals of the Authority are to:
- Mainstream environmental targets and objectives across Government and society; • Take the leading role in advising Government on environmental policy-making at the national level, as well as in the context of international environmental negotiations;
- Develop evidence-based policy; backed by a robust data gathering structure;
- Draw up plans, provide a licensing regime and monitor activities having an environmental impact and to integrate environmental considerations within the development control process.
The Compliance and Enforcement Directorate is a new Directorate established in July of this year, focusing on compliance and enforcement of the said environmental legislation. The Directorate is divided into three teams focusing on compliance and enforcement related to: Nature Protection; Facilities; and Waste. The latter team focuses on Shipments of waste, Extended Producer Responsibility, and illegal waste deposition.
The Environment and Resources Authority decided to take part in the LIFE. SWEAP project since it believes that through knowledge, training and communication between authorities, illicit movements of waste can be curbed. The Environment and Resources Authority is one of the associated beneficiaries in this project and commits itself to report all shipments of waste inspections which varies from facility, roadside and/or port inspections together with desk investigations such as documentation checks.
