Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1529157
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 10 NOVEMBER 2024 7 COMMERCIAL How BCRS supports a culture of sustainability in Malta GROWING up in a throwaway culture, meant it was normal to consume a product and then throw it away when there was no longer any use for it. As I got older and started to learn about climate change and the factors contrib- uting to it, I began to understand that while the system needs to change, as a consumer I also have a responsibility to the planet. Eventually, I started to make changes in my life that would re- duce my impact such as shopping second-hand, no longer buying from fast fashion companies, and switching to a plant-based diet. I started attending beach clean- ups and using reusable bags when shopping for groceries. At the same time, I also acknowledged that we live in a linear economy and that being perfectly sustaina- ble would never be possible. In November 2022 the BCRS system was introduced to Mal- ta to incentivise "the return of single-use beverage containers by applying a refundable deposit on the sales of beverages". This made it the 13th country in the EU to launch the scheme, and the first in the Mediterranean. Since its introduction BCRS Malta re- ported that 79% of the single-use beverage containers in circulation were collected through the BCRS system which is something to be celebrated. While there sadly still is a lot of litter in our streets and public spaces, I can confidently say I rarely see beverage contain- ers being discarded- and if they are left on the ground, there will be someone willing to collect them shortly after. The BCRS system however is not the solution to the climate cri- sis. The 5Rs of waste management are commonly referenced in the sustainable/ low waste spheres. These are Refuse, Reuse, Reduce, Repurpose and Recycle. These are typically presented as an inverted triangle with recycling being at the bottom point- the R that should be given the least attention. This is because recycling is the result of new items being created and recycling in itself is still resource intensive and plastic packaging in particular cannot be recycled in- definitely. Instead of focusing on recycling plastic bottles, people should be asking themselves what they can be using instead. This is one of the reasons why I have hardly used the BCRS because I barely drink soft drinks and drink filtered water. While as consumers we should focus on reusing, repurposing and refusing, there is no denying that plastic is here to stay, and we will be in situations where we might have to buy an item with single-use packaging. For that rea- son, having BCRS around is help- ful because it helps keep rubbish off the streets and incentivises people to separate their rubbish increasing the amount of beverage containers being recycled. As the BCRS system is approaching its second birthday in Malta, here are some recommendations on how it can address its growing pains; • continue to increase the types of beverage items that are accepted • increase the number of ma- chines in different localities to increase accessibility • potentially implement a fast (1 bag or less) vs slow machine for people with a small amount of items to recycle • regular maintenance to pre- vent machines from break- ing down. • Plastic packaging of bever- age containers should be swapped for materials that are infinitely recyclable like metal or glass. • Better management of waste left at the machine sites e.g. discarded bags, containers that were not accepted etc. Hopefully, instead of being seen as the solution to our waste problem, the BCRS will comple- ment a new culture of reducing/ repurposing/ refusing in Malta. DAVINA SCHEMBRI Davina Schembri is an Educational Psychologist and Sustainable Living Advocate Davina Schembri Frank Salt Real Estate appoints Claudio Fenech as Assistant Manager of Mellieha Branch FRANK Salt Real Estate is pleased to announce the ap- pointment of Claudio Fenech as the new Assistant Manager of the Mellieha branch. Clau- dio has been an integral part of the team since he joined the company as a Sales Consult- ant in September 2020. His commitment, leadership skills, and extensive experience make him a valuable addition to the management team as he steps into this pivotal role alongside Patrick Xuereb, the North Re- gional Manager. Claudio's background is root- ed in both the hospitality and public sectors, having initially started his career at the Cus- toms Department. However, his true passion lay in hospi- tality, where he spent years working part-time in hotel management before fully com- mitting to the industry in 2007. Over the years, Claudio rose to various management po- sitions, successfully leading high-paced, prominent estab- lishments, often contributing to their openings and growth. However, at the age of forty, he made the decision to transition to real estate, motivated by a desire for greater work-life bal- ance. This move allowed him to leverage his extensive cli- ent-facing experience in a new way, providing a perfect blend of professional fulfilment and family time. Reflecting on his real es- tate journey, Claudio shared, "Since starting with Frank Salt Real Estate, it has been a con- stant learning journey filled with satisfactions, thanks to a wonderful office environment and supportive colleagues. The company respects our input, which gives us a daily boost to tackle challenges head-on." Now, in his new role as Assis- tant Manager, Claudio brings not only his managerial acu- men but also a personal con- nection to the community of Mellieha, where he was born and raised. Known to many in the area from his years in hos- pitality, he hopes to leverage these connections to attract more clients and strengthen the office's reach within the local community. Claudio's vi- sion for the branch is rooted in fostering a respectful, collabo- rative office culture. "Mellieha is a close-knit community, and clients feel more comfortable working with familiar faces. My role is to ensure a warm, cohe- sive environment in the office, where every team member feels valued and encouraged. I believe respect is foundation- al to success — for colleagues, the company, and even our es- teemed clients." The addition of Claudio to the management team will bol- ster Frank Salt Real Estate's on- going strategy of nurturing in- ternal talent and strengthening branch operations. COO Dar- ren De Domenico expressed confidence in Claudio's ap- pointment, stating, "Claudio has demonstrated unwavering dedication and a high level of professionalism. His unique combination of managerial ex- perience, deep community ties, and an innate understanding of our industry positions him well to lead our Mellieha team. I am confident his presence will bring about a positive impact on both the team and the cli- ents we serve." Claudio Fenech