Gozitan Councils Team Up With GreenPak

In a bid to further increase their waste recovery, the three Gozitan Local Councils of Xewkija, Sannat and Xagħra have teamed up with Green Dot Malta, operators of the only approved waste recovery scheme known as GreenPak, to promote and encourage recycling and waste separation.

These Local Councils are currently recovering 42% or 2.9 tonnes of the total possible amount of recyclable waste from their localities. Through this partnership, these Local Councils have a potential to recover 6.9 tonnes per week.

The GreenPak scheme will be distributing free recycling bags to all households in Xewkija, Sannat and Xagħra and have increased the number of recycling banks in each locality, making it easier and more convenient for residents to recycle. The scheme was launched in Gozo by the CEO of Green Dot Malta Ing Mario Schembri, together with Xewkija Mayor Dr Monica Vella, Xagħra Mayor Joseph Cordina, and Sannat Mayor Philip Vella, in the presence of Minister for Gozo Giovanna Debono, Parliamentary Secretary for Public Dialogue and Information Dr Chris Said, and the Labour Party Spokesperson on Local Government Dr Stefan Buontempo.

Minister Giovanna Debono stated that this agreement which is being signed during the same week the world celebrates World Environment Day, will translate into tangible results for these localities and to the people living there. She insisted that this initiative will undoubtedly increase awareness among the people about the need to separate and recycle waste on a daily basis. This will ensure cleaner localities and therefore, a better quality of life. Minister Debono's appeal is not only to a better management of waste collection, but also to reduce the possibility of the dumping of waste in the countryside. She added that in light of government’s vision of making Gozo an ecological island, tomorrow the Ministry for Gozo will be launching a project which will confirm the Ministry’s commitment in the cleaning of the general environment of the island.

Dr Said congratulated the Local Councils and said that through such initiatives and agreements reached with private entities, they are living up to their responsibilities of ensuring the correct disposal of waste and of disseminating information and educating the public at large. The GreenPak scheme involves free collection of separated waste, the setting up of more bring-in-sites and the free distribution of waste bags. “Now that all Gozitan Local Councils have signed up to waste management schemes, we are confident that separated waste will drastically increase in the next few months.”

As of 1st April 2010, landfill fees incurred by Local Councils were increased to €20 per tonne. Local Councils are therefore, finding ways to encourage residents to recycle in order to reduce the amount payable under the new rates. The lower the landfill fees, the more funds the Local Council will have available for locality embellishment projects.

Ing Mario Schembri said, “Our indications are positive that the GreenPak scheme will be successful in Gozo as more Local Councils and residents are understanding the benefits of recycling and separating waste. Gozitan Local Councils are reducing their landfill charges and contributing to a cleaner and greener Gozo.