More Than 800 Million Drink Containers Collected Through BCRS Since 2022

Around 817.7 million drink containers have been collected through Malta’s BCRS scheme since its launch in November 2022, according to Environment and Energy Minister Miriam Dalli. The figure covers the period up to the end of June 2026, with the scheme continuing to receive operational and regulatory changes aimed at improving the service.

New requirements now set a minimum 90% weekly uptime for reverse vending machines (RVMs), while machines should not remain full for more than 4% of operating time. Collection and cleaning have also been increased, with additional collections introduced in high-demand areas during the summer.

The government has also introduced support through Malta Enterprise to encourage retailers to invest in more RVMs and expand the collection network. Figures on plastic bottles also show a decline between 2024 and 2025. The number of PET containers placed on the Maltese market fell from 174.83 million to 173.12 million, a decrease of around 1.72 million containers. Unflavoured water bottles accounted for around 1.24 million of this reduction, representing approximately 71% of the overall decline in PET containers. The government said the figures are consistent with efforts to encourage tap water consumption and reduce reliance on single-use plastic, although it noted that BCRS data only provides a partial picture of overall water consumption.

Photo Source: BCRS Malta

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