If the current operators are not in a position to meet expectations up to the extent that their failures disrupt the proper separation of waste at national level, WasteServ does not exclude that it may take drastic action in consultation with the department of Local Government and the Association for Local Council so that it is ensured that residents are receiving the best possible service.
Door-to-door collections are the responsibility of GreenPak (https://www.greenpak.com.mt) and GreenMT (https://www.greenmt.org) - the two private schemes that have numerous binding legal obligations related to the collection and recovery of packaging waste.
WasteServ has over the weekend received numerous complaints that in a number of localities glass placed in cardboard boxes remained uncollected. We also received numerous information from a number of contractors stating that this is because allegedly at least one of the schemes responsible for such collections (GreenPak) gave fresh sweeping instructions to its collectors not to collect glass in cardboard - this even though an acceptable modus operandi was already found - glass and cardboard collected separately.
Once again WasteServ denies that it has ever issued instructions for such collections to be stopped, neither in September 2020 even less so now.
In a spirit of constructive cooperation WasteServ has so far refrained from naming and shaming respective operators. WasteServ even stopped from publicly contradicting those who may have intentionally spread misinformation about WasteServ instructions to hide their own shortcomings in meeting longstanding obligations. It is however becoming increasingly evident that the general public and the media community need to be made fully aware of all the undertakings in the waste management industry so that as a country we make the required improvements.
WasteServ is obliged to ensure that the material it receives is clean and not in a state that precludes its final recycling potential and over the past months it has worked day and night to address a range of shortcomings from private operators.
Specifically, in terms of glass, such material used to be brought in conjunction with a pile of rubbish including, plastic, cardboard, and other mixed waste. The only instructions issued by WasteServ to the Schemes were to bring in such material clean and in line with obligations that had been in force on such schemes for numerous years. To help the schemes, who found it difficult to invest in waste collection trucks equipped with dual compartments - one for glass, and one to be potentially used for cardboard, WasteServ engaged in a campaign to encourage the public to make use of reusable containers.
It has however:
- NEVER limited the collection to the container provided by WasteServ
- NEVER banned the use of cardboard boxes where this was practicable
The changes and operational difficulties experienced in numerous localities are not related to any new WasteServ instruction, and WasteServ was not even informed or consulted in relation to any changes.
WasteServ believes that when Local Councils choose their contractors to cover door to door collections of glass and other packaging waste, including the green and grey bags, they should continue to demand the best possible services to help Malta further increase its recycling performance.
If the current operators are not in a position to offer this, to the extent that such failures disrupt the proper separation of waste, WasteServ does not exclude that it may take drastic action after consulting the department of local government and the Association for Local Councils so that together it is ensured that residents are receiving the best possible service.