BCRS Hits 150 Million Bottle Milestone in Nine Months Amidst Malta’s Trash Crisis
BCRS has reached another milestone after 150 million bottles were recycled in just nine months around the island.
“These figures are something that all those who have the island’s environment at heart should celebrate,” a BCRS spokesperson stated.
“Because there has been a marked decrease in beverage containers strewn on our streets or dumped at sea, among others,” they added.
900,000 containers are being collected on average each day during the month of August.
The scheme is making impressive progress in achieving its goal of recycling 70% of the beverage containers released into the market by the end of 2023.
In 2022, Malta had the lowest rate of recycling for plastic packaging in the entire EU – and these machines turned that figure around after surpassing the EU average of 41%, successfully recouping 74% of beverage containers.
Similar European countries that introduced such schemes witnessed a high reduction in the rate of littering, as customers have an economic incentive to return the containers.
As Malta keeps making headlines for several garbage issues around the island, BCRS is urging the public to responsibly dispose of its refuse through the proper and numerous channels available.
After Adrian Delia spoke out against the bottle recycling system, BCRS stated that the BCRS “teams were also working round the clock to keep up with the huge numbers, as well as clearing its hubs every day, and ensuring these are these are washed according to a weekly schedule.”
BCRS is also implementing CCTV systems which will overlook the reverse vending machines and will be connected to the systems of the LESA enforcement agency, which is already issuing “hundreds of littering fines.”
“BCRS machines are just one of the solutions introduced to safeguard our environment and address the littering problem — irresponsible dumping outside reverse vending machines, other bring-in sites, or overflowing bins have to be addressed through education and enforcement.”
What do you think of this new milestone?
READ NEXT: Iosif Galea, Renowned Gaming Consultant Accused Of Money Laundering, Granted Bail
