Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/764316
49 Events maltatoday, SUNDAY, 18 DECEMBER 2016 Glass bottle collections from bars and restaurants resume to daily service for the festive period LATEST figures from GreenPak Coop Society show that 12,000 kgs of glass bottles have been collected from the daily col- lection service from bars and restaurants within a period of eight weeks between 10th Au- gust and 3rd October 2016. This is equivalent to 12 tons of waste which has been diverted from the landfill. GreenPak Coop Society com- menced a daily service to col- lect empty glass bottles in three localities on a trial basis from August until 3rd Octo- ber. This pilot project was very well received by the bars and restaurants, and the service continued on weekends (every Friday, Saturday and Sunday) at 01:00hr, during the less busy period. The service is available to bars and restaurants along the seafront in Gzira start- ing from Manoel Island, and passing through The Strand, Qui-Si-Sana, Tower Road, Bal- luta Bay, and ending at Spinola Hill. The service collects empty glass bottles and glass jars only. Daily glass bottle collections will resume in the same areas for the Christmas period, that is from 17th December 2016 to 2nd January 2017. The service is held in collaboration with the Local Councils of Gzira, Sliema and St Julians, together with the Cleansing Services Depart- ment. "We offer this service free of charge to bars and restaurants in these three localities. Collec- tion is carried out in the early hours of the morning to make the least impact on traffic, busi- nesses and the community," said GreenPak CEO Ing. Mario Schembri. "As we are approach- ing the busy end of year period, we are increasing the frequency of our service from three times a week to seven times a week." GreenPak adapts its glass bottle collections according to busier periods, such as at Christmas time and the sum- mer months. From Friday 7th January 2017 the service will then continue on weekends (on Fridays, Saturdays and Sun- days) only. GreenPak Cooperative Socie- ty, which runs the largest waste recovery system in Malta, also runs the monthly service of its door-to-door glass collection from households and commer- cial outlets on the first Friday of the month. In Gozo, the same glass collection service is oper- ated every first Thursday of the month. For more information one can visit the website: www.greenpak. com.mt or contact GreenPak on telephone: 2166 0233. Waste is a challenge: get behind the recycling effort WASTE is one of the major challenges that Malta faces to- day. The amount of waste that Malta generates, is one of the highest in the European Union considering we are such a small country. A report published in March by Eurostat shows that a shocking 600 kilograms of waste was generated by each person in Malta in 2014. This makes Malta the sixth largest producer of waste in the EU.. Our small size alone makes a strong case for the immedi- ate need to reduce our waste. With land availability finite and a high population density, our challenge and responsi- bility is to manage our waste properly. The main aim behind the national campaign DON'T WASTE WASTE (TAĦLIX L- ISKART) is to highlight this and raise awareness about the need for waste reduction and good management practices. The campaign also strives to highlight how waste is a valua- ble resource. Organic waste can be converted into clean energy, recyclables are exported as raw material for new goods whilst electronic and electrical equip- ment have many a precious met- als which may be recovered if disposed of properly. Our country's infrastructure and services make it easy for all citizens to manage their waste. There is at least a weekly collec- tion service in all localities for recyclable items which include plastic, paper, cartons and met- al which should be placed in the appropriate green/grey bags for collection, sorting, baling and export. Not doing so and placing them in the black bag means that they will be landfilled, consuming the little space that is left and making a case for a new landfill. Civic amenity sites are open 7 days a week for householders to dispose, free of charge, of a vari- ety of items, not least electrical and electronic equipment, white goods and hazardous household items such as spent paints and thinners, expired medicines and syringes as well as light bulbs. Nine localities in Malta and the entire region of Gozo are currently also separating their organic waste which is collected up to three times a week. With an eventual national rollout, our plants at Marsascala and Ghallis will operate more effi- ciently, generate more renewa- ble energy and divert such waste away from the landfill The least we can do is to commit to man- aging our own waste properly. Our challenge is round the corner. By the year 2020 these are a few of the challenges that we need to achieve: • Recycle 50% of paper, plastics, metal and glass waste from households; • Divert 65% of biodegrada- ble municipal waste from landfills towards recy- cling and recovery; • Collect up to 65% of the average weight of elec- tronic and electrical equipment placed on the national markets with a view towards recycling and recovery • Increase the collection of batteries to 45% of that placed on the market and ensure achievement of re- cycling efficiencies; Your help and collabora- tion is essential. Do your bit and help us reduce the need for new landfills whilst con- tributing to a better environ- ment for our enjoyment. Visit ht t p://w w w.dont wastewaste . gov.mt. YOUR FIRST CLICK OF THE DAY www.maltatoday.com.mt Fantastical characters come to life through HSBC Catch the Drop IN its efforts to champion water conservation in Malta, HSBC's Water Programme - Catch the Drop sought to awaken the hid- den creative in every youngster and enlist their talents into in- spiring others to understand how to save our planet. An enthralling storybook, 'Il- Vjaġġ ta' Mila' (The journey of Mila), designed and written by the students of San Ġorg Preca College Ħamrun ĠP Primary students, is just the latest in a string of publications which have become a reality thanks to the support of the HSBC cam- paign. To-date, the Programme has helped with the publication of over 45,000 printed mate- rials - all with the theme of water conservation. These in- clude a booklet called 'Ġiġi and the Water', a colouring book named 'Harvey the Lifestyle Dog®', an informational book- let about the Catch the Drop programme, and a Maltese- language comic book 'Qatra Qatra'. Meanwhile, another sponsored book, Djamantini, won this year's National Book Fair in the Children's Book Sec- tion (13-16 year olds) category. Djamantini's section on water featured a number of poems, narratives, and stories on the subject. Distribution of these publi- cations collectively reached schools, hotels, hospitals, and even Malta International Air- port. In addition to printing production, the campaign's sponsorship of water projects and public outreach initiatives has included presentations, theatre shows, site visits and more. The HSBC Water Programme – Catch the Drop is the largest ever national environmental and educational campaign of its kind in Malta, and aims to forge a blueprint for progress on sustainability of water as a resource. It's aimed to edu- cate every school-going child in Malta – comprising nearly 50,000 students – and en- courages schools, corporates, NGOs, general public, and local councils to actively participate in water-conservation issues. The official launch of 'Il-Vjagg ta' Mila' booklet at GP Primary School Hamrun