Approximately 150 million beverage containers have been recycled within the past nine months following the initiation of the Beverage Container Refund Scheme. This initiative has effectively reclaimed plastic, glass, and cans that might otherwise have polluted Malta’s beaches and natural surroundings.

Throughout the month of August, an average of 900,000 containers are being collected each day, according to the BCRS. Notably, just last year, Malta ranked as one of the European Union’s underperformers in recycling, with only 20 percent of approximately 230 million beverage containers placed on the market each year is recycled. The introduction of the BCRS has reversed this trend in less than a year, exceeding the EU average recycling rate of 41 percent by successfully reclaiming 74 percent of beverage containers.