Maltese band clubs are pledging to protect the environment by implementing more environmentally-friendly measurements during this year’s feasts and celebrations… and the green wave has already kicked off.

Siġġiewi’s Każin Banda San Nikola and Mellieħa’s Societa Filarmonica La Vittoria are the first two band clubs to commit to environmentalist Cami Applegren’s list of clubs that will not release balloons during their respective feasts this year, all in an effort to protect the environment and reduce waste.

Siġġiewi’s St. Nicholas became the second village band club to take action against plastic balloons last year, and have now reaffirmed their commitment to taking a proactive pro-environment stance this year with some other green additions.

“We will certainly not be releasing any balloons (as per previous years) and have already ensured that all confetti is shredded paper confetti and not plastic,” said the club president.

Popular environmental activist Cami Appelgren applauded the Siġġiewi band club as the first to make 2020’s list, going on to celebrate the club’s “promise of possible more green measures”.

Mellieħa’s La Vittoria band club also banned balloons during their feast last year and have once again recommitted to providing a more green feast in 2020.

“The assistant musical director Mr Gauci contacted me and also added that they are aiming to be better each year,” Appelgren announced on Facebook.

Last year, several localities stepped up to implement green measures including, the St Andrew’s band club of Luqa, the Kumitat Festi Esterni San Ġorġ of Qormi, the San Ġiljan Band Club, the Soċjetà Filarmonika Marija Mtellgħa s-Sema band club of Mġarr and the St Nicholas band club of Siġġiewi.

The initiative seems to have already caught on in 2020 and hopefully Malta will soon see green feasts across the board with zero plastic balloons and no unnecessary waste.

“Now… who will be the 3rd one?” Appelgren asked. Let’s wait and see!

Tag someone from Siġġiewi or Mellieħa