Plastic Bottles In BCRS Scheme Will Be Collected Door To Door From Elderly People, Abela Announces
Eligible users will be able to call and book a day and time for collection. On the same day, they will receive their refund voucher on the spot—just as if they had used a BCRS reverse vending machine.
The government says this pilot initiative is designed to reduce the inconvenience faced by elderly and disabled people who currently need to queue at BCRS machines. It is being launched in response to public feedback, particularly from those who found the current system physically challenging.
Prime Minister Robert Abela announced the scheme during a Room4Ideas session in Attard focused on environmental issues. He said that while the public had adapted well to the BCRS system overall, the government recognised the need to make it more accessible and inclusive. Talks were held with BCRS operators to ensure that the new service would prioritise vulnerable groups.
The BCRS home collection is part of a wider package of environmental measures tied to Malta’s Vision 2050 strategy. Also announced was the upcoming inauguration of a new ferry landing in Buġibba next month, which will add a new stop to the fast ferry route between Malta and Gozo. Abela said the fast ferry system, launched during the pandemic, had changed the way the country uses sea transport despite initial scepticism.
Other ongoing initiatives include the shore-to-ship electricity systems at the Grand Harbour and Freeport, the construction of a waste-to-energy plant, more investment in waste separation, and stronger incentives for the shift to electric vehicles.
The Prime Minister also mentioned the recently opened Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, built on a previously derelict industrial site. The centre operates on renewable energy and provides an educational space for students and teachers.
Sunday’s event also featured contributions from anthropologist Dr Rachel Scicluna and architect Professor Reuben Paul Borg. Both called for more integrated environmental planning and stressed that infrastructure should be designed with people’s daily realities in mind. They urged policymakers to approach construction and land use holistically, considering not only economic but also social and cultural impacts.
Abela closed the session by stating that while Malta faces real environmental challenges, the government is committed to turning them into long-term opportunities through consultation, planning, and inclusive policies.