GreenPak Cooperative Society, which runs the largest waste recovery system in Malta, is registering its tenth consecutive year of successful operation with a net surplus on its recycling operations. In addition, the MEPA authorised scheme has improved upon last year’s record recycling performance and registered its highest figures since formation a decade ago. More details will be announced during this coming Tuesday’s annual general meeting, which will be addressed by the Minister for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate Change Leo Brincat and the Minister for the Economy, Investment and Small Business Dr Chris Cardona.

As a founding member of Extended Producer Responsibility Alliance (EXPRA), a not-for-profit international organisation promoting the concept that it is private industry itself that should take up recycling, GreenPak is on the forefront advocating the concept of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) within the Maltese business community as the way forward to a Circular Economy.
EXPRA’s Managing Director Joachim Quoden will be in Malta specifically to deliver a keynote speech, looking into the implications of the EU proposed Circular Economy package on Malta. Mr. Quoden explains: “EPR means that after a product has been sold, the company takes upon itself the responsibility to finance the collection and recycling of the product, once it becomes waste. However, with the implementation of the Circular Economy as a business model, this would effectively mean as the beginning of a new cycle. Within a Circular Economy products are predesigned to be stripped down to their smallest components after they’ve been used, with the parts re-inserted into the production chain instead of being discarded as waste.”
Keeping true to its original pledge is the secret to its success. Ing Mario Schembri, GreenPak’s CEO explains: “When in 2005, we launched our business, we immediately set out a clear vision of what and how we wanted to achieve our goals. Our initial commitment that GreenPak will operate at the least possible cost in the interest of the common good is as strong as ever.”
GreenPak operates across both islands providing recycling services to almost three-quarters of the Maltese population. The Cooperative comprises over 1,300 companies which actively take part in its packaging waste recycling scheme. Due to the superior service it provides, GreenPak has seen a remarkable increase in growth even in the last 12 months, with more Local Councils, namely Naxxar, Swieqi, St Lucia, St Venera and Msida, joining its fold.
GreenPak is run as a cooperative society and its scheme is managed on a not-for-profit basis providing total transparency in the way it goes about its business. As with any other cooperative, the surplus funds are given back to the society members. The accounts for the 2014 financial year have been audited by PwC and who will be presenting their report in the forthcoming AGM planned for Tuesday 5th May 2014.
For further enquiries regarding GreenPak waste collection scheme, bring-in-sites and other information one can visit the Greenpak website HYPERLINK “http://www.greenpak.com.mt” www.greenpak.com.mt or contact them on tel: 2166 1081 or email HYPERLINK “mailto:info@greenpak.com.mt” info@greenpak.com.mt