Approximately 145,000 beverage containers were collected through the pilot project of mobile RVMs (Reverse Vending Machines), a door-to-door initiative allowing people aged 60 and above to call for their collection.
With an average of 250 bookings per week, the pilot project achieved positive results. As a result, the Ministry for the Environment, Energy, and Public Cleansing is extending this service to 10 more localities. These are: Santa Venera, Żurrieq, Ħal Safi, Ħal Kirkop, Ħ’Attard, Ħaż-Żabbar, Marsaskala, Xgħajra, Mosta and Mġarr. The service is also available to Blue Badge holders.
The Minister for the Environment, Miriam Dalli, and the Parliamentary Secretary for Public Cleansing, Glenn Bedingfield, announced this during a visit to Bormla, where a mobile RVM was in use for the public. They were joined by Circular Economy Malta CEO Inġ. Jason Vella and Clean Malta Director General Ramon Deguara.
“When we launched the mobile RVM pilot project, our goal was to reach as many people as possible. It is rewarding to see rapid growth, with more localities included in the next phase of the initiative. This is just the beginning – with proper investment, we aim to expand this service throughout all of Malta,” Minister Dalli said.
The project will continue to expand in the coming months through investment in more modern and efficient machinery, boosting collection speed and capacity, which will enhance service efficiency. This investment will improve the responsiveness of the service so it can handle more requests. This initiative will be a crucial step before the pilot project is scaled up nationally.
Figures from CEM also indicate that access to fixed public machines has improved, with machines recording a 4,800-hour increase in operational time in just one month when compared to the same month last year. This gain results from measures taken to enhance site management by the operator and the support provided by Clean Malta, enabling machines to be emptied more frequently.
Parliamentary Secretary Glenn Bedingfield explained that “we are doing our part to be of service to people who want to recycle. We do not expect problems to resolve on their own. That is why we are offering this door-to-door service, so that together with the Maltese people we can work towards a better environment.”
With this expansion, the list of localities has now risen to 30, and includes: Marsa, Kalkara, Ħal Għaxaq, Gudja, Mqabba, Qrendi, Birżebbuġa, Senglea, Vittoriosa (Birgu), Valletta, Bormla, Paola, Ħamrun, Ħal Lija, Ħal Balzan, Santa Luċija, Ħal Luqa, Floriana, Pietà, Gwardamanġa, Santa Venera, Żurrieq, Ħal Safi, Ħal Kirkop, Ħ’Attard, Ħaż-Żabbar, Marsascala, Xgħajra, Mosta, and Mġarr.
Bookings for the new localities will open tomorrow, Tuesday 5 August, and can be made from 08:00 to 20:00, Monday through Sunday, by calling 1718 or emailing bcrs.cleansing@gov.mt.
The Ministry for the Environment also reminds the public that after the Water Services Corporation’s investment to enhance tap water quality nationwide, the Energy and Water Services Regulator is now accepting applications for the ‘Tap Water’ scheme. Under this scheme, anyone buying an active carbon filter can receive a 60% refund of the purchase price, up to a maximum of €100. Additionally, vulnerable families currently receiving energy benefits have been sent a €100 voucher by mail to buy the filter. The list of shops that accept these vouchers can be found on waw.com.mt.
