VALLETTA, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Malta saw a 23 percent reduction in mixed waste in 2023 compared to the previous year, the country's Environment Ministry said on Monday.

       The amount of mixed waste from households was the lowest received by the state's waste separation company, WasteServ, in the last 20 years.

       Moreover, some 20,000 tons of recyclable waste was processed and returned for reuse in the economy last year, the highest amount in Maltese history.

       Environment Minister Miriam Dalli told a press conference that these results mark WasteServ's most successful year since its inception in 2002, confirming Malta's progress in sustainable waste management.

       "Such positive results can only be attributed to a collective effort -- individuals, families, businesses, government entities, voluntary associations, and many others -- who are understanding the importance of reducing and recycling waste to protect the environment and the future of our country," she said.

       Malta's ultimate objective is to bring down the landfilling of waste to 10 percent by 2035, she added.