Malta Recycled Nearly 11,000 Tonnes Of Bottles And Cans Through BCRS In 2025

Malta’s Beverage Container Refund Scheme (BCRS) continued to improve its recycling performance in 2025, collecting almost 11,000 tonnes of beverage containers despite more bottles and cans entering the market than…

Malta’s Beverage Container Refund Scheme (BCRS) continued to improve its recycling performance in 2025, collecting almost 11,000 tonnes of beverage containers despite more bottles and cans entering the market than the year before.

According to newly released figures, 242.3 million beverage containers were placed on the Maltese market in 2025, up from 236.3 million in 2024.

Despite the increase, the scheme’s overall collection rate by weight rose from 82.8% to 84.5%, with 10,965 tonnes of beverage container material collected for recycling.

Breaking the figures down by material, PET plastic bottles recorded the highest collection rate at 86.7%, followed closely by aluminium cans at 86%, while glass containers reached 82.7%.

BCRS Malta also continued expanding its collection network throughout the year, adding new return hubs in Salini, Balzan, Kordin, Xlendi and Xgħajra to make recycling more accessible across Malta and Gozo.

Meanwhile, attendants are now stationed at 11 of the busiest Reverse Vending Machine sites, helping keep machines operational by emptying them during peak hours.

The organisation also continues to fund a door-to-door collection service for people aged 60 and over and for persons with disabilities, with the service now expanded following a successful pilot.

BCRS Malta CEO Alexander Galea described the figures as evidence that the refund scheme is continuing to deliver results.

“The key message from these results is that the scheme has maintained, and improved, its collection performance while managing a higher number of containers placed on the market,” Galea said.

He thanked consumers, retailers, producers and businesses for their continued participation, adding that BCRS will continue investing in making container returns easier and more accessible across the islands.

The Beverage Container Refund Scheme allows consumers to reclaim a refund by returning eligible single-use beverage containers, helping reduce litter while ensuring bottles and cans are properly recycled.

Do you regularly use the BCRS machines?

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