Green Council Award: Kirkop recovers most recyclables per capita

The Parliamentary Secretary responsible for Local Councils, Dr Chris Said, presided over the ‘Green Council Awards', organised by the National Authorised Waste Packaging Compliance Scheme, Green MT, held at the Westin Dragonara Resort .

‘Green Council Awards' rewards those Local Councils who over the last year October 2009-September 2010 recovered the highest amount of recyclable materials per capita. The criteria included recovery through the Grey Bag, and Bring in Sites in the Localities.

Addressing the guests for the evening, Green MT Ceo, Joe Attard delved back in the days, early in 2008 when the grey bag collection totalled only 28tons a week and is now reaching 130 tons weekly from 41 Local Councils where Green MT is committed to recover recyclable waste. He further recalled the proactive stance taken in the very begining of ‘Recycle Tuesday' initiative put in place by Government in collaboration and in agreement with the Waste Carriers under the guidance of GRTU and also the Local Councils Association whose contribution to where we are today is commendable.

GRTU Director General and Green MT Chairman, Vincent Farrugia also addressed those present and spoke about the vision that one needs to have to reach goals which are sometimes viewed as extremely difficult. He said the past had its difficulties and now looks forward to more and more concrete steps to be taken by the Authorities and Government in order to improve on what has been built.' Despite the difficulties, working together will help us reach the final aim, that of not only reaching legal obligations on behalf of the business community, which is primary, but also that of creating a link with the residential community in all Maltese and Gozitan Local Councils' stated Vince Farrugia. He expressed thanks to all Local Councils.

In his keynote speech, Dr Chris Said thanked Green MT for setting up these awards and for further establishing new parameters of assesment for each Local Council operating with Green MT for 2011. ‘Best Value Performance Indicators' will be put in place as a methodology for assessing Local Councils for the coming year in order to better the service rendered to our residents.

Dr Said elaborated on a mentality change that is happening from day to day from our schools to our residences to our places of work and then to the whole of the individual localities. It is a time where we need to be bolder and more proactive in the choices we make. Less Packaging, less waste, less financial burdens, less use of fossil fuels. Dr Said emphasized on the commitment that Government has made in respect to the environment and more specifically to the recovery and treatment of a number of waste streams.

There is a need to continue to make better choices and better use of our resources. We need to further establish stronger environmental awareness and indulge into more educational campaigns. ‘Although enforcement in itself is a requisite, it is us, each individual, each business enterpreneur, all of us that need to make a mentality change in order to increase recoveries at present.

Green MT reached a recovery of 7928 tons of recyclable material from local Councils during Oct 2009 to end September 2010. Green Council Awards were then presented to the Local Council of Kirkop which reached an annual recovery per capita of 66kg annnually, followed closely by Ta' Xbiex which recovered 65kg per capita and then Birkirkara which recovered 46kg per capita. Birkirkara was the Locality which recovered most recyclable waste in volume terms. Other recognitions were presented to Service Providers and the Local Councils Association and the Gozo Region. The Hospitality Industry Award went to The Westin Dragonara Resort.