Circular economy performance and promotion of reuse centres
On 11-12 June 2025, the Policy Learning Platform held an onsite peer review for the WasteServMalta, which requested advice regarding their policy challenge on the circular economy performance and promotion of reuse centres. The peer review was hosted by the Helsinki Metropolitan Area Reuse Centre in Espoo (Finland) and the Patina Reuse Centre in Lahti (Finland) which also offered site visits to get a hands-on understanding of the reuse processes, logistics and employment structure. The delegation also visited a reuse shop in a high-end shopping centre (Iso Omeno) in Helsinki.
Peers from across Europe
Alongside Katharina Krell and Astrid Severin, our Thematic Experts for a Greener Europe, five excellent peers participated in the peer review:
- Alun Harries, Wastesavers Charitable Trust Ltd., Wales, UK
- Matteo Giantomassi, ATA Rifiuti, Ancona Province, Italy
- Pilvi Mansikkamäki, Patina reuse centre, Lahti, Finland
- Vladimíra Karasová, OZO Ostrava, Moravian-Silesian Region, Czech Republic
- Tuovi Kurttio, Helsinki Metropolitan Area Reuse Centre Ltd., Finland
Recommendations
Malta is aiming to meet a series of ambitious targets to reduce the generation of waste and to increase source separation to promote recycling and reduce landfilling. However, the total amount of generated waste is still growing, with 7% increase in 2023 and the country is focussing efforts on waste prevention and reuse.
To this effect, WasteServ Malta - under the responsibility of the Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Public Cleanliness - launched the project of opening Reuse Centres that accept items which are meant to go into the Civic Amenity Site system but are in good condition. In June 2022, WasteServ launched its first Reuse Centre in Ħal Far. A few months later, another Reuse Centre was opened in Xewkija (Gozo). Subsequently, two more Reuse Centres were opened in Ħal Luqa and Mrieħel. From the outset, Reuse Centres were designed to address a key challenge mentioned in the Waste Management Plan in order to help diverting good quality products from landfill, giving them a second life. At the same time, the latter reduces the demand for new products and consequently, minimizes the consumption of natural resources.
To induce stronger policies fostering reuse and waste prevention as well as to the improve operation, promotion and impact reporting of reuse centres in Malta, the peers recommended the following:
- Reuse needs a tailored ‘policy boost’ with specific policy priorities, support schemes, targets and awareness-raising campaigns
- Social and employment policies often support reuse centres to support socially disadvantaged groups
- Standards and guidelines are usually developed for bigger centres with several outlets
- Digitalisation of reuse centre operations helps reporting and monitoring e.g. integrated in a cashier system
- A strong brand and visual identity guidelines raise visibility and underline the professionalism of onsite and online reuse activities
- The location of reuse shops is an important factor to ensure visibility and easy access of consumer to reuse items e.g. high street shops increase acceptance; reuse centres at civic amenity sites work well if easily accessible
- Clustering several activities (reuse, charity, repair, upcycling workshops, school visits…) draws more attention to the reuse centres
- Professional online shops help normalising the reuse shopping experience
- Fully-fledged awareness campaigns have proven useful whilst ensuring continuous promotion through social media
The host’s policy challenges, and all the peer suggestions will be available in the follow-up report, published soon.
This experience was very good and we gathered a lot of relevant information that will help us to formulate our policies and strategies for waste prevention and reuse in Malta.
Antonella Gatt - Maltese Ministry for Environment, Energy and Public Cleanliness
We have learned a lot from the peers and we will be in touch soon to follow up on data recording, impact reporting, drop-off points, online shops and much more to strengthen our reuse capacity.
Daniel Tabone - WasteServ Malta
It is very inspiring to exchange with like-minded people on reuse, social inclusion and driving change towards more waste prevention. We all learned a huge amount!
Alun Harries, Wastesavers Charitable Trust, Wales
Peer review publication
Find more information on the methodology and experiences of previous beneficiaries in our publication.
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