In light of the inaugural International Day of Zero Waste, which encourages everyone to prevent and minimize waste and promotes a societal shift towards a circular economy, H.E. Ambassador Beresford-Hill attended a high-level meeting in the General Assembly Hall.

As the Sovereign Order of Malta, we have been, and continue to be, a consistent participant in tackling the problems of waste management, particularly in developing countries where cities lack adequate infrastructure and funding. Through our international aid agency, Malteser International, one of our initiatives links two problem areas particularly evident in Asia: reducing plastic pollution and providing opportunities for marginalised and low income women. By educating people on 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle), organising women into groups, setting up local waste collection points and small-scale industrial recycling workshops, our project succeeds in both reducing plastic pollution and increasing the income of marginalised women. Through this initiative, we are able to contribute towards SDGs 1, 4, 5, 8, 10, 12, 13 and 17.