Pictured above: Gżira Primary School students together with GreenPak’s mascot, Green Gary

 Coop Society launched its Irriċkla għall-Istrina initiative which aims at collecting funds for the upcoming l-Istrina 2012 through collecting and recycling of plastic bottle caps. The campaign was launched today (16^th November) at the Gżira Primary School. For this second edition, GreenPak has further extended its scheme to local councils enabling households to actively contribute in this charitable cause.

Primary school students are being encouraged to help local charities by collecting and depositing plastic bottle caps in recycling bags at their respective schools. Fifty primary schools in Malta and Gozo have been supplied with GreenPak’s recycling bags.

“In merging two socially beneficial activities, Irriċkla għall-Istrina aims to instil among the young generation the importance of contributing to a charitable cause and, in turn, helping to create a more caring and environmentally friendly future,” said Denise Brincat, GreenPak Senior Manager. “The more plastic bottle caps students collect in schools, the bigger will be their school’s donation towards l-Istrina.”

GreenPak’s educators, along with GreenPak’s mascot, Green Gary, explained to the attentive students the scope and benefits of Irriċkla għall-Istrina initiative. The students are being encouraged to appreciate the importance of recycling, and at the same time help raise funds for l-Istrina.

Students pose with GreenPak’s Education Officer Kurt Scerri, EkoSkola Co-ordinator Elena Hodgekins, Head of Gżira Primary School David Caruana, GreenPak’s mascot Green Gary, and GreenPak Senior Manager Denise Brincat

During l-Istrina 2011 event, the combined effort from the participating schools culminated with the presentation of €5,000 by student representatives to His Excellency, the President of Malta, Dr. George Abela. A total of 1.5 million plastic caps were collected and recycled by 52 schools and organisations.

As one of Malta’s major charity events, l-Istrina is organised by the Malta Community Chest Fund and involves the airing of a 12-hour TV marathon on 26 December 2012.

For more information regarding Irriċkla għall-Istrina and a list of all the schools that are registered with GreenPak in this initiative, kindly contact GreenPak Coop Society on tel: 2166 0233, via email: info@greenpak.com.mt, or by visiting www.greenpak.com.mt.