Green MT launches curbside collection of glass from 17 local councils in Malta

Green MT, the National Authorised Packaging Waste Compliance Scheme will be collecting glass from curb side (door to door) from 17 Local Councils in Malta on the first Friday of the month as from February 6th, 2015.

At a Press Conference to launch this environmental initiative, Joe Attard, Green MT CEO said it is high time that glass packaging is no longer allowed to be placed in the black bag and deposited in our engineered landfill. The public is to use this initiative and also the Bring in Sites available already to the public. In the presence of mayors from a number of Maltese Local Councils he outlined that Green mt would be ready to provide additional individual bins for glass as required if requested by Local Councils. This will supplement the door to door collection. Thisinitiative follows a similar initiative in Gozo

launched as from the first Thursday of every month in November 2014 in ten Local Councils in Gozo. Currently these Local Councils have reached a 2 ton collection.

Green MT aims to collect 40 tons a month of glass from these Local Councils in Malta. The Local Councils on board this initiative include Dingli, Iklin, Marsascala, Mellieha, Mgarr, Mtarfa, Marsaxlokk, Naxxar, Rabat, Siggiewi, St Julians, St Pauls Bay, Ta’Xbiex, Floriana, Gharghur, Cospicua and Vittoriosa.  At all localities the collection will start at 08.00am Mr Attard outlined that a Mobile Advert will be visiting the Local Councils in the coming two months to make sure the public is aware of such an initaitve in these Local Councils. In addition a calendar is being distributed by Green MT Eco Councillors doorto door. Campaign has already started in Cospicua and Birgu and will continue for a number of months. In addition a leaflet has been produced to show residents why glass needs to be collected and finally recycled.

At the launch Mr Paul Abela GRTU President outlined the good work that GRTU has done over the past years to make sure that SME’s take over their environmental obligations, both morally and at law. He was pleased to note that SME‘s are today more conscious of the environment but he said that enforcement for those who remain out of the loop needs to continue by the Authorities. He also thanked Government for placing the WEEE Directive on the agenda of 2015 in respect to implementation. He said discussions should formally start in earnest so that once September comes along thesystem will be running without any hiccups or delays. Of course to implement this Directive a revision of the Eco Contribution regime is to take place